Article by Sam Jeavons
This Monday the FA Cup Third Round Draw took place, a prestigious day in the footballing calendar, and also one that sheds a light on non-league clubs having historic days. For a brief moment all eyes are cast on the stories of semi-pro football, it’s important however to remember what makes these clubs tick on a day to day basis!
We spoke to club photographer, Oli Biddle and media assistant/graphic designer, Alex Lea about their time at the club.
(Q) What is your role and how long have you been at the club?
(O) Club Photographer – 6 years in January!
(A) Media Assistant/Graphic Designer, one year.
(Q) What does your role involve?
(O) As club photographer i not only capture photos of the game on a matchday but also work with the club to assist in creating photographic content.
(A) My role involves creating the matchday/Starting Lineup graphics, thumbnails for YouTube & conducting post-match interviews with Craig Mahon and the players.
(Q) How did you get involved/how long have you been at the club for?
(O) By complete chance! I was tagged in the club’s social media post about wanting a matchday photographer by someone I had done some previous photography work with back in Hereford. The person who put it online on behalf of the club was Elena (who I work with and is also a volunteer at the club). We had a chat and as soon as I walked through the gate I was welcomed by everyone associated to the club, from the board, fans, players and also the volunteer team, I’ve not looked back since.
(A) I have been involved for a year today as I joined mid-season with the first game being Droylsden in freezing, icy, weather (ironic for Tameside!) I got in touch with the club via my university and the JobHub platform, looking for volunteer work in football. At the time there was a choice of Trafford FC or Curzon Ashton, being a local to Tameside it was a no brainer! I got in contact with the Head of Media at the time, Rhys Jones and he took me in ever since and I’ve never looked back.
(Q) Favourite Curzon Ashton memory?
(O) Over the years it’s not only the memories of Curzon, but my own personal ones. The club has supported me through a lot of challenges and especially during Covid, it allowed me to ‘active’ when those bits of freedom were taken away from us. There have been such fantastic memories for me, in my first season we won the Manchester Premier Cup, the FA Cup 1st round and the playoffs.
(A) My first game when I was 14, my uncle taking me to the Curzon vs AFC Wimbledon FA Cup game and what an experience that was, especially as football legends such as Thierry Henry were there doing pitch side punditry for BT Sports – and of course, the performance from Adam Morgan!
(Q) Most memorable experience?
(O) For me, anytime we play Hereford (the team I supported as a child) is a fantastic day to show not only how far I’ve come, but how far Curzon have come too.
(A) Probably last season as a whole which seems obvious to say given the success – but just enjoying the experience. From being in the gantry, to doing updates on X and Instagram, getting to know the players and management staff, and engaging with the fans more and more.
Receiving positive feedback from the fans and continuing to grow is great. The media team has excelled every matchday and non-matchday to create engaging content and help create consistency.
National Volunteer’s Day is a great way to sing the praises of those who give to the club, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Everyone involved epitomises the spirit that makes the club run as it does, and it couldn’t be done without them!
