New clothes

Following our abortive attempt at team and squad photos the previous week, we were successful before Prescot Cables' game at home to Radcliffe Borough. The forecast had been for rain again in the afternoon, but this became more likely for the evening. The team assembled early, and lined up for their squad photos in the new training tops. It may seem an obvious precaution, but I only just remembered to put down a couple of cones so everyone stood in the same place. As my fill in flash was only working manually, I needed everyone the same distance away.

The squad photos will have two crops, one square for the website, and a sort of cigarette card format with the player's name. I shall also see if I can persuade the Liverpool Echo to use this year's picture of Andy Paxton: despite sending one in last year, they continued to use one from when he was coaching at Skelmersdale United and was attired accordingly.

After this, it was time for the team photo. Andy Paxton had a clear idea what he wanted, always a good thing, as it is easier to give someone what they want if they know what that is. Also the players might not be keen to shift and change shirts about for balance if I ask, but when the manager tells them, they do not have a choice. Previous team photos have been taken in front of the stand, but we decided to go for the club sign on the Gasworks Side.

Michael Simpson

We hoped to get the club badges in, but there were too many people, but we got the ground sponsors in, getting them the exposure they have paid for. Captioning was easier this year, as there was only one player whose identity I had to check, unlike last year, when, but for remembering a Twitter follower at the last minute, one player nearly appeared under a made up name. This is the final draft, with a couple of tweaks still to come.

Once I had the photos backed up on my phone (I did not want to make this a weekly occurrence), there was time for coffee from a local outlet, something stronger than instant.

The visitors had a new yellow away kit, in place of the black and red of previous seasons. Their shirt back sponsor appears to have changed the spelling of their name.

Before

After, with Lloyd Dean

We started play early: I spotted Dr James coming in at two minutes past the hour, as we kicked off after Joe Nicholson's fourth minute goal.

Joe Nicholson scores our goal

At half time, stalwart supporter Harry Thomas pointed out that my counterpart for the visitors had a high vis waistcoat with "Official Photographer" on the back, and speculated that they must have some money. I pointed out that it would have not cost much, and he was probably supplying the rest of the kit himself.

Lenses are trained on Sam Staunton Turner

The league like anyone inside the pitch perimeter who is not playing to be appropriately identified, and sent all the teams bibs for the players to wear warming up - in a fetching shade of orange, which is not much use to either side when we are at home.

If you are wearing black at this level you need to add a decent amount of another colour - it is all very well channelling your inner Lev Yashin, but the goalkeeper is supposed to be distinguished from the referee.

As for the game, a goal for Radcliffe on the hour ensured the points were shared, maintaining our unbeaten record for the first proper look at the table after the traditional three games.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here.

Final score: Prescot Cables 1 (Joe Nicholson) Radcliffe Borough 1.