SHIRLEY Whitlow is the winner of the Suffolk FA Grassroots Photograph of the Season competition sponsored by Lockdales.

The 2019-20 edition of the competition saw the Lowestoft Town club photographer scoop the accolade from an impressive field of entries.

Shirley’s photograph of Lowestoft skipper Travis Cole celebrating scoring for Lowestoft Town versus Suffolk rivals Needham Market in an FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie at Crown Meadow last September caught the eye of the judges.

Second place in the competition, which is run in conjunction with Archant Ltd, publishers of the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star, went to Paul Voller, who lives in Felixstowe.

His photograph was of Cemal Ramadan celebrating with the Bury Town fans after he had given his side the lead in a 1-1 home draw in Isthmian League North against Coggeshall Town in November last year.

Shirley Whitlow's winning entry is pictured above. Pictured at the judging (top) are (left to right) Ross Halls, Liza Machan and Nick Garnham.

Paul was placed third in both 2016 and 2017 as well as finishing fourth in last season’s competition, demonstrating a remarkable level of consistency.

Third place went to Framlingham Town Chairman and club photographer Dean Warner taken on the opening day of last season of Jono Fryatt scoring in his side’s 2-2 draw at Fakenham Town.

This was the fifth time that the competition for amateur photographers has been run and the third year in a row that it has been sponsored by Lockdales, the coin dealers and auctioneers based at Martlesham near Ipswich.

The Judging Panel was made up Liza Machan, Head of Photography & Design at Lockdales, Ross Halls, Video Sports Specialist at Archant Ltd, Suffolk FA Marketing & Communications Officer Nick Garnham and Suffolk FA Marketing Apprentice Lily Chiang.

Paul Voller's second-placed entry is pictured above.

Liza Machan said: “It has been the best year yet in terms of the quality of the entries received.”

Ross Halls said: “It is fantastic to see that there has been a growing interest in the competition and to see a female photographer finish in the top three for the first time.”

Nick Garnham added: “It is always pleasing to see the competition attracting new entries year on year and especially so that one of them ended up as the winner this time.”

“I would like to thank Lockdales for once again sponsoring the competition and to those who entered this season but were not successful on this occasion."

The winners will each receive a framed photograph of their winning entry which will be presented at a later date.