And finally…Aberdeen accountant launches double life as photographer to the footballing stars

By day accountant Stephen Dobson hides under the guise of a bean counter for Aberdeen housing association Langstane, but in his spare time he has transformed himself into a photographer to the stars of the footballing world.

From asking to photograph an Aberdeen under-20’s game back in May 2016, Stephen has since became an official Aberdeen FC Match-day photographer taking on important games such as last season’s League and Scottish Cup Finals at Hampden Park to a more recent job covering the superstars of FC Barcelona at the world famous Camp Nou stadium.

Stephen said: “A year past June I was offered the chance to photograph Aberdeen’s opening European game at Pittodrie. Having never photographed a professional football game before, this was an absolute dream come true.

A couple of years prior to that I attended an Apex Photographics beginners photography workshop where I learned how to use my camera in manual mode.

I’ve always been amazed how much advice and support other photographers are willing to give, I remember tweeting the professionals who sit pitchside at Pittodrie for advice and now I’m sitting next to them.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be taking photos at Pittodrie for Aberdeen FC, never mind photographing Lionel Messi at Camp Nou in Barcelona.

I doubt I’ll ever photograph a bigger star on a bigger stage, an experience that will never be surpassed.”

And the company that employs Stephen to do his day job has not passed up the opportunity to utlise his newfound talent, tapping up his experience and skills to the recent filming project of its 40th anniversary DVD as well as its annual Christmas card photographs.