FGIF PHOTO AWARDS 2008-2009

As always the FGIF Photographic Awards portray the very best pictures sent in to the site over the football season. The standard of images taken during 2008-2009 has been exceptionally high and credit must go to all the photographers who have kindly contributed their superb ground, action and matchday  shots. The images have been placed into eight main categories to cover: (1) The Best League Ground Photo (Great Britain); (2) The Best Non League Ground Photo (Great Britain); (3) The Best Ground Photo (Overseas); (4) Best Match Action; (5) The Best Groundscape; (6) The Idyllic Ground; (7) The Photo Opportunity and finally, (8) The Unexpected picture. Over 1500  individual pictures were carefully scrutinised and the best ones selected to highlight: photographic and artistic quality; composition; lighting and colour; originality and atmosphere. It has been a difficult task to rank so many quality photos. After shortlisting the top pictures in each category it was finally decided to the select the overall winner and nominate all the others as worthy runners-up. We hope you enjoy viewing these terrific images.  A CD containing over 250 of the very best images taken during 2008-2009 is now available. If you would like a copy please contact FGIF for more details.  Thanks to all FGIF photographers who have kindly uploaded their images. Special mention must go to the folloowing: Mark Bembridge; Peter Collins; Harley Freemantle; Andy Gallon; Leon Gladwell; Stephen Gray; Stuart James; Dave 'DJ' Johnston; Emma Jones; Mike Latham; Richard Panter; Mike Roe; Paul Roth; Andy Sneddon; Gary Spooner and Nick Willis. A big thankyou! Apologies if I have missed anyone out.   The winning photos from each category are shown below. To view the complete results for each section click the following link: http://thearchive.footballgroundsinfocus.com/FGIFPA89RES.htm   Category A - Best League Ground Photo (Great Britain) Dumbarton FC (The Scottish Football League) by Gary Spooner Amazingly both of this year's FGIF Best Ground photographs (in Britain) come from Scotland! The picture above shows the impressive Strathclyde Homes Stadium and is nominated as the best in the Football League section. Gary's image, taken last December, depicts the scene before kick-off in the Scottish Football League Division 3 fixture between Dumbarton FC and Forfar Athletic (result 3-0). The large main stand straddling the full length of the pitch is shown in all its glory and can be fully appreciated by the viewer. The contrasting sections of black and yellow seats help to provide a touch of colour on what appears to be a rather dull afternoon. The photograph is taken at an acute angle and creates a tremendous sense of perspective and depth. The roof supports appear more jagged as they continue into the distance. The rocky hillside forming the landscape behind is unusual and also adds interest making the setting for the picture totally unique. It's quite appropriate then that the club are known as 'The Sons of the Rock'. If you look carefully you may spot the walls of Dumbarton Castle  perched on top. The photo fits the frame perfectly and helps to show why this is one of the most attractive and picturesque stadia in Scottish Football. Thanks Gary for allowing us to share this moment with you! Category B - Best Non League Ground Photo (Great Britain) Fraserburgh FC (The Highland Football League) by Gary Spooner Bellslea Park, home to Fraserburgh FC, is the beautiful setting for this year's Best Non League Ground photograph. FGIF snapper Gary took time out from his Scottish holiday in February to visit the Highland League football club and take some mouth watering photos for us. Located on the exposed north east Aberdeenshire coastline the ground is situated next to the old South Kirk. This building towers over the main stand and is a truly impressive landmark for any football ground. As a result there is a strong feeling of history about the place. Everything here looks neat, orderly and well maintained. A welcome splash of colour is added by the seating found inside the dated main stand. To the right the viewer can also catch a glimpse of a boat in the harbour and the imposing North Sea which forms part of the skyline beyond. A terrific composition and worthy winner!   Category C - Best Ground Photo (Foreign) RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (La Liga) by Leon Gladwell There were many outstanding nominations in this category. This year the Best Overseas Ground image has been awarded to popular FGIF snapper Leon Gladwell who captured the magnificent Estadi Olimpic Montjuic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, Spain during a visit in April. Built in 1927, the stadium now seats almost 53000 spectators and is also ranked as one of FIFA's Elite Stadia. It was used for the Summer Olympics in 1992. Leon's photo shown above offers a breath-taking, panoramic view over the enormous bowl-shaped amphitheatre and immediately creates the vast impression of space. The pitch surrounded by an athletics track is tiny in comparison to the surroundings. The figures on and around the pitch are too small to identify but add to the sense of depth and perspective. There is so much to see and the viewer's attention moves quickly to the large stand with its overhanging roof and finally to the sky-line beyond.  Despite the apparent distance from the action you really do feel as if you are there soaking up the excitement and atmosphere of this important La Liga fixture. A truly outstanding photograph. Thanks Leon for contributing a perfect picture!   Category D - Best Action Photo from Cirencester United v Wootton Bassett Town (Hellenic League Div 1 West) by Paul Roth   Always close to the action Paul brings us yet another superb football snapshot during his travels. The overall winning picture comes from a visit to Cirencester United FC for the Hellenic League Division 1 West match against Wootton Bassett Town. The image is totally dynamic: movement is clearly shown by the angles created by all the players and the referee who fill the frame. As the battle to gain possession intensifies all eyes are fixed on the ball. With a fast shutter speed (ISO - 800; Exposure time - 1/750 sec) the viewer can also observe plenty of sharp, crisp detail in the composition - for instance the markings on the ball and the players' kit; the determined expressions on their faces; clagging soil attached to the boots and the appearance of a heavy, energy-sapping pitch are clear for all to see. The stationary figure standing a few yards behind the play accentuates the action in the foreground. The lighting also helps to create a perfect picture making it the best action shot in the FGIF Photographic Awards for 2008-2009.  Thanks Paul for being in the right place at the right time!! Category E - Best Groundscape Queens Park Youth FC (SPL Youth League) at Lesser Hampden Park by Mike Latham Once again super hopper, FGIF reporter and avid photographer Mike Latham wins the award in this category. His photo, taken at Lesser Hampden for a Scottish FA Youth Cup second round tie between Queens Park and St Johnstone played in November, is truly superb. The ground which is literally in the shadow of the famous Hampden Park was developed back in the 1920s when the club purchased an adjoining farm situated at the western end of the ground.  As Mike himself recounts: 'The original farmhouse was converted into a pavilion and changing rooms - it is reckoned by historians to be the oldest football building in the world. It’s a distinctive building, painted white with a black painted overhang roof and distinctive terracing in front. Behind it lie a church and sandstone Victorian buildings. The view from here is outstanding and, with Hampden just across the way, there is a tangible sense that you are attending a ground of real historical importance'. The perspective immediately leads the viewer from the edge of the pitch in the foreground to the imposing sandstone buildings and tenements in the backgound. The setting is unique. You might be forgiven for missing the action as your eyes wander. It's certainly a scene offering plenty of contrasts: the bright vibrant green colour of the artificial pitch with its distinct white lines is set against the dark sandstone buildings behind; the modern synthetic playing surface is the only recent addition to this otherwise historic site and the anomaly that only handful of spectators are gathered here for a match at the world famous (Lesser) Hampden Park. Thanks Mike for bringing us a terrific groundscape. Category F - The Most Idyllic Ground Askham United FC (West Lancashire League) by Mike Latham   When like me you live in a Flat County that is Suffolk, it's a real treat to see a few hills. And when it comes to finding the most beautiful locations at which to watch football then Mike has to be the undisputed king. His photo shown above was taken during a visit to Askham last April is the overall winner in this category. As Mike explains: 'Askam in Furness is a small village nestling in the Duddon estuary to the north of Barrow-in-Furness. With views of near and distant Lakeland fells and mountains the views are simply stunning and on an evening like this are crystal clear'. We cannot agree more! The frame captures the picture-postcard location perfectly with its steep rugged backdrop, stunning  hillside and scenary and a fluffy cloud filled sky, all of which contrive to avert the viewer's gaze beyond the proceedings on the pitch. As you rest on the perimeter fence there's no place you would rather be. For the record the match is a West Lancashire League Division 2 fixture against Furness Cavaliers.  Thanks Mike for sending your image to FGIF! Category G - The Photo Opportunity from Barmouth & Dyffryn United (Welsh Alliance) by Mike Latham     This eye-catching picture was taken on Mike's first ever visit to the Welsh coastal resort of Barmouth. It's a stunning setting. The club's home ground is called Wern Mynach, translated as monks’ marsh - once a place, just inland from the beach, from as early as the 12th century where the monks from a nearby settlement grazed their animals. Beyond the far end of the ground is an urban country park which has its focal point a distinctive wooden ship. The photo, taken during the Welsh Alliance match between Barmouth & Dyffryn United and Conwy United at the end of January, is the winning picture in this category of the FGIF Photo Awards. The composition is unusual, interesting and unique as Mike takes a short walk from pitch side to focus on the ancient wooden ship. This becomes an even more spectacular shot as he still manages to capture the action in the background and the mountainous backdrop beyond.  It's definitely a most professional Photo Opportunity. Thanks once again Mike! Category H - The Unexpected! from the SWL Hop (at Axminster Town FC) by Gary Spooner    Wow! What an amazing photo! This was certainly one of the most eye-catching pictures sent in to FGIF last season. Taken at the SWL Hop for 2009, star snapper Gary brings us a most intriguing composition. The unusual subject matter is captured at Axminster Town FC during the SWPLE fixture (against Ottery St Mary, result 4-1). As the action unfolds on the pitch Gary's attention is quickly drawn to events behind the periment fence. In a split second he spots a Border Collie as it averts it's gaze towards one of the spectators passing by. It's a moment shared by only the viewer and the canine who are taken by surprise at the figure dressed in a colourful catsuit. The crowd present are totally oblivious to what's going on. We are left to guess what will happen next. It's all quite surreal - or maybe not when you realise that Axminster Town are nick-named the Tigers! Thanks again Gary (and your chosen subjects) for helping to contribute this amazing picture. Totally unexpected!!

Massive thanks to all contributors for their invaluable help and support in providing images during 2008-09. Web Ed (updated 24.07.09)