STAN Baston may have missed capturing the goal but his shot of the celebration that followed won him the Suffolk FA Grassroots Photograph of the Season sponsored by Lockdales.

His photograph of Ipswich Town loanee Henry Barley celebrating the winning goal for Felixstowe & Walton United away to Coggehsall Town in a Bostik League North Division fixture in April was voted the winning picture in this season’s competition.

The 76-year-old, who lives at Waldringfield and covers matches for the Seasiders, only entered that one shot – a maximum five entries per person were permitted – into this season’s competition.

He said: “It was one of those goals where it happened so quickly I missed the ball going into the net, but I was able to get the celebration afterwards.

“In non-league football very few players run towards the camera to celebrate – they always run towards their team-mates – but on this occasion he came towards me as he was running in the direction of the spectators near me.

Pictured at the presentation to the winners of the Suffolk FA Grassroots Photograph of the Season sponsored by Lockdales are (left to right) Ross Halls, Visual Sports Specialist at Archant, Paul Leech, Stan Baston, Michael Mann and Liza Machan, Head of Photography & Design at Lockdales

Runner-up was Michael Mann who lives at Forward Green, near Stowmarket, with his shot of Louie Hyde clearing the ball for Salvation Army Saints Under-15 versus Woodbridge Town in March.

Michael, who submitted five entries, said of his shot: “I think it was a toss-up between this one and one I took of players in the pouring rain as to which was my favourite.

“They were both photographs of my nephew’s team playing in a cup semi-final, and one minute there was bright sunshine and the next it was raining heavily!

“When I took it I didn’t realise I had caught him in mid-air, but when I saw it later the shot really stood out.”

Woodbridge Town’s club photographer Paul Leech came third with his photograph of Luke Mallett celebrating after scoring the winning goal in his side’s 3-2 victory over Whitton United in March.

Paul, who was last year’s winner, said of his photograph: “This one was not my favourite of the five that I entered, but it was obviously the one that caught the eye of the judges.

“Thank you to Suffolk FA, Lockdales and Archant for running the competition and we look forward to all taking part and having a go at trying to win again next year!”

The competition was organised in conjunction with Archant Ltd, publishers of the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star, and the winners each received a canvas print of their winning entry plus a framed certificate.