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By Ian Beesley on

Ian Beesley’s Capital One Cup Final photographs

Photographer Ian Beesley attended the Bradford v Swansea Capital One Cup Final, and brought back some photographs of this historic occasion.
Crowd 01, 24 February 2013, © Ian Beesley, courtesy of the artist
Crowd 01, 24 February 2013, © Ian Beesley, courtesy of the artist

It’s hard to take photographs of a football match when you are a fan. The transition from fan to photographer is a difficult one; any excitement and it is difficult to resist that pull back to being a fan and part of the collective crowd experience.

Crowd 02, 24 February 2013, © Ian Beesley, courtesy of the artist
Crowd 02, 24 February 2013, © Ian Beesley, courtesy of the artist

The most important and enjoyable part of the trip to Wembley for me was the collective experience, the feeling of belonging, the shared emotion and pride of being a Bradfordian and a Bantam. I took my camera as a fan, and the desire to have a photographic memento of this historic occasion. The sight of thousands of City fans singing and waving their flags as the Bantams struggled against a first class team is one that will remain with me. My photos are but a slight interpretation of that spectacle, but already they are a poignant reminders of a fantastic day.

Crowd 03, 24 February 2013, © Ian Beesley, courtesy of the artist
Crowd 03, 24 February 2013, © Ian Beesley, courtesy of the artist
Crowd 04, 24 February 2013, © Ian Beesley, courtesy of the artist
Crowd 04, 24 February 2013, © Ian Beesley, courtesy of the artist

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