Swansea City FC, best pictures of the year 2018
2018 was the year Swansea City got relegated to the Championship after enjoying seven successive years in the Premier League.
The year is also a great landmark for Athena Pictures as it celebrates its tenth year running.
Working as the exclusive photographers for the south Wales Club, we have witnessed first hand what has been happening behind the scenes.
Some of those images have never been published and as you may notice, I have tried to not include many action images.
This must be one of the best images I have ever captured as a photographer. It was taken during the kit photo-shoot for the 2018-2019 season.
Wilfried Bony had just had his pictures taken with both home and away kits but decided to photo-bomb Leroy Fer’s shoot, in a way, I am so glad that he did.
Leroy Fer and Wilfried Bony during the Swansea City AFC 2018-2019 kit photo-shoot at the Barn, Academy training ground in Landore, Swansea, UK. 26 April 2018
It would be best to carry on with the studio theme and it’s worth mentioning that 2018 was the first time that I was allowed to create set-ups outside of the boundaries of a sterile studio.
Some images were taken at Exist Skate Park, some other in a local gym.
Mike van der Hoorn during the Swansea City AFC new kit photo shoot at the Exist Skate Park in Swansea, Wales, UK. 18 April 2018
Martin Olsson during the Swansea City AFC new kit photo shoot at the Exist Skate Park in Swansea, Wales, UK. 18 April 2018
Club colleagues and I also utilised the concourse of the Liberty Stadium, using a magnificent graffiti as a backdrop.
Connor Roberts during the Swansea City AFC new kit photo shoot at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, Wales, UK. 18 April 2018
These are from the third kit photo-shoot which a lot of people have to keep their lips sealed for.
Not only Leroy Fer is a great footballer, he is also a natural when it comes to posing, everything he does seems effortless, both on and off the pitch.
The same applies to Connor Roberts who seems to adopt very well in a studio environment.
Leroy Fer during the Swansea City FC kit photo-shoot at Fairwood Training Ground, Wales, UK. 12 July 2018
Connor Roberts during the Swansea City FC kit photo-shoot at Fairwood Training Ground, Wales, UK. 12 July 2018
Jefferson Montero during the Swansea City FC kit photo-shoot at Fairwood Training Ground, Wales, UK
Moving on to a bit more of what footballers are used to be seen doing.
This is just a candid moment between Tom Carroll and Courtney Baker-Richardson on the training pitch.
I like the intimacy of it. There must have been a bit of banter between them but still, they seem to be working hard training.
(L-R) Tom Carroll and Courtney Baker-Richardson in action during the Swansea City Training Session at The Fairwood Training Ground, Swansea, Wales, UK. 27 September 2018
Ever since I started working with the Club, time and again I hear managers talking about how players enjoy their football. This image reflects the camaraderie between players and how happy they seem to be going to work.
Wilfried Bony and Leroy Fer lead team mates to the pitch during the Swansea City Training at the Fairwood Training Ground, Swansea, Wales, UK. 22 November 2018
Joe Lewis and Mike van der Hoorn during the Swansea City Training at The Fairwood Training Ground, in Swansea, Wales, UK. 02 November 2018
Wilfried Bony during the Swansea City Training at The Fairwood Training Ground, Swansea, Wales, UK. 04 December 2018
Sometimes the need arises when portraits have to done outside of a studio. Although not very easy to convince a player to do pictures away from a Club facility, it works a treat when it happens.
Leon Britton needs no introduction. After spending years as a player in different leagues, a short spell as caretaker manager, it was time for him join Lee Trundle in becoming Club Ambassadors.
Leon Britton at Swansea Bay, Wales, UK. 27 July 2018
Swansea City FC footballer Oliver McBurnie at the club’s Fairwood Training Ground near Swansea, Wales, UK. 19 September 2018
This is a moment of great historic importance. Angel Rangel enters the pitch with his wife and children, for his last ever appearance for Swansea City.
Angel Rangel of Swansea City walks onto the pitch with his family prior to the Premier League match between Swansea City and Stoke City at The Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales, UK. 13 May 2018
Swansea City manager Graham Potter shouts instructions to his team from the dug-out during the Sky Bet Championship match between Swansea City and Preston North End at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales, UK. 11 August 11 2018
Leandro Bacuna of Reading vies for possession with Bersant Celina of Swansea City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Swansea City and Reading at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, Wales, UK. 27th October, 2018
Connor Roberts and Oli McBurnie celebrate the latter’s goal against Leeds United at the Liberty Stadium. 21 August 2018
Nothing of course would be possible without the support from these guys.
Swansea City fans celebrate at final whistle during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Swansea City at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England, UK. 04 August 2018
Wayne Routledge of Swansea celebrates his goal against Sheffield at the Liberty Stadium. 15 December 2018