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Photo Shoot Time
Photo Shoot Time
Wednesday, 20th Jul 2005 00:00

It's Photo Shoot Time Again At White Rock

There is most definitely something cheesy about seeing footballers line up in their new kit and with their new team mates while endless clicks of cameras follow. False smiles are met in between by laughter as the players share a joke between them making for maybe a more natural photo.

The norm at the Vetch in the four years I have covered the photoshoot has been for benches to be placed on the pitch - you know the ones you used to see in the school gym - and the players cram around them for a traditional team line up.

Today though was different as there could be no benches on the White Rock pitch that is being kept in pristine condition for Saturday's opening game - the Alan Curtis testimonial against Fulham. So there was a new plan - let the players line up in groups - from keepers at the back through defenders, midfielders, attackers and led at the front by Lee Trundle and Paul Connor - fresh from turning down his move back to the native North East.

It was different I'll give you that and it was hard to know if there was more confusion amongst the photographers or the players but it worked. A more traditional picture was taken in the West Stand lower tier before moving on to the head and shoulders pictures of all the team.

It may be cheesy but it's an essential part of pre-season and the pictures taken today will appear in a variety of places at various stages next season.

A few observations from myself. Akinfenwa is massive. Put it this way I would not like to run into him on a football pitch. I think I'd be shaking for a week! Trundle is slimline and it's easy to see why he believes that he is in the best shape of his life. And there is a great spirit within the squad - something which has not always been evident on this day in seasons gone by. That surely should bode well?

For the pictures taken from my fair camera today, click the links below

CLICK HERE FOR TEAM SHOTS

CLICK HERE FOR INDIVIDUAL SHOTS

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Photo: Action Images



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