A football club is more than just 11 players – an army of staff and volunteers work behind the scenes to make matchday magic. Histon Football Club photographer, Mark Hopkins talks to Lucy Callington about capturing moments and keeping your eye on the ball…
There are many unsung heroes in the world of sport, so it’s always good to take a moment to shine a light on some of the people who turn up without fail every Saturday to give their all – those who man the bar or P.A. system, the many who carry balls and kit bags or, in the case of Mark Hopkins, can be found on the sidelines poised to capture another week’s matchday memories with his trusty Nikon camera.
Having been interested in photography since the age of 13 when he first learnt to take and develop his own pictures, Histon-born Mark was a fan of his local club long before joining up as official photographer.
He shares, “I used to go and watch the team when I was young and returned during the 2004 season when my daughter’s football team were ball girls for a First Team match”.
From there he started helping with photographs in the 2008-2009 season and loved it so much that he took over as main photographer in 2010.
Originally honing his skills with film and an Olympus camera, the advent of digital photography had him hooked. “Since buying my first digital camera, I haven’t looked back – even though it has turned out to be an expensive hobby!”
Sport through the lens
Mark is a familiar face on the touchline to Histon fans, capturing all the motion and the emotions… the game-saving tackles, aerial battles and unforgettable goals. Each week his photos can be seen on his website and on the club’s Facebook page – helping many to catch up with matches they may have missed – or relive again the moments that matter.
But taking the perfect shot is no mean feat, as Mark explains: “the biggest challenge in sports photography – besides the great British weather of course – is that you have to anticipate the action to capture the best picture you can. This only comes with experience.”
For Mark, getting to know what your camera is truly capable of is key: “My top tip for capturing the best shot is practice – not just with sports – but with as many genres and techniques as you can. This helps you really learn to use your camera and its settings.”
Match highlights
The years spent documenting the effort and commitment of the various teams at Histon for the fans, have created some indelible memories for Mark too.
Mark remembers: “One of my most memorable moments has to be our FA cup victory against Leeds United in the 2008-2009 season. Despite being a lifelong Leeds United fan, I had no choice but to support the village of my birth!”
He continues: “I spent the match on the side of the pitch taking photographs in the worst possible conditions – soaking wet with my jeans freezing to my legs! I thought there was no way my camera would survive, but luckily it did, along with some great images…”
A real team player
It takes an even bigger team of people behind the scenes to support the team on the pitch, and as one social media user noted when commenting on one of Mark’s matchday photos: “Not all heroes wear capes. Most do wear a high vis though!”
Mark is happy to be part of what he calls the “strong, friendly and welcoming club”, noting, “we have a great set of volunteers and players at the club which makes working there very easy”.
Having recently become a grandfather, the Histon man has branched out, trying his hand at family photography! But he has no plans for quiet Saturday afternoons yet.
He enthuses, “My hope is that the club continues to thrive and grow – as it has been recently – and continues to inspire young people to take up the game.
“I’d also like to see it continue to promote Histon youth squads and Hornets players to advance and become First Team men and women’s players”.
Visit Histon FC’s website here or take a look at Mark’s match gallery here.
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