Back to The 80s - My First Day With a Camera

 

My First Big Day With a Camera

If you asked me to pick one day that set me off down the road of being a photojournalist, it would have to be that one back in the 80s when I found myself at Barrowfield, Celtic’s training ground in Glasgow’s East End. I was there with nothing more than my trusty old camera, a head full of nerves, and the excitement of a supporter who couldn’t quite believe his luck.

Now, don’t get me wrong — this wasn’t me turning up as some big-shot photographer. I was just starting out. My “gear bag” was basically a second-hand camera that probably weighed more than me, and enough rolls of film to bankrupt a paperboy. Still, I was there, and that was enough.

And then it happened. My very first assignment: photographing Celtic manager Billy McNeill and Paul McStay. Honestly, I nearly dropped the camera just thinking about it. Billy, the greatest captain in Celtic history, and Paul, who was not only the beating heart of the team but also my favourite player. I remember thinking, “Right, don’t mess this up… or at least try to get them both in the frame.”

Standing there, pointing my lens at two legends, was surreal. It felt less like work and more like winning a competition I didn’t even remember entering. For a Celtic supporter, it was about as close as you get to football heaven — short of actually sticking the ball in the net at Parkhead.

Looking back, what makes me laugh is how out of my depth I felt. Everyone else looked like they knew what they were doing, and there I was, squinting, fiddling with the settings, praying I didn’t end up with a roll of blurry photos that looked like ghosts running about Barrowfield.

But you know what? I got through it. I got the shots. And more importantly, I realised that maybe this was something I could actually do — telling stories through pictures. That day was the start of it all.

It’s funny how life works. One minute you’re just a Celtic supporter with a camera, the next you’re standing a few feet away from two of the biggest legends the club has ever seen. For me, it was humbling, thrilling, and just a little bit terrifying. But aye, it was also the day I knew I wanted to chase this thing called photojournalism.

And to this day, every time I see an old photo of McStay gliding across the pitch or Big Billy raising a trophy, I can’t help but smile and think, “That all started at Barrowfield, with me and my clunky wee camera, just trying not to mess it up.”

Billy McNeil 

Paul McStay

Me in Glasgow's East End 1980s