Scottish football photography award goes to Williamson

A COMPETITION celebrating football photography, involving the UK’s home nations, has chosen a photographer with well-known Glasgow picture agency, SNS Group, as its Scotland winner.

Craig Williamson has been named Photographer of the Year for Scotland in the awards run by home nations sponsor, Vauxhall Motors.

In a statement issued by the competition organisers, his portfolio – which included striker, Kenny Miller having scored against Cyprus – was described by judges as “capturing the very essence of international football”.

His victory won him a cheque for £500.

Williamson had been shortlisted for the prize along with Alan Harvey and Sammy Turner, both also at SNS, plus freelancer, Lorraine Hill.

He was also shortlisted in a separate category, Vauxhall Scotland Individual Photograph of the Year, which was won by England-based Laurence Griffiths of Getty Images, for his shot of Scots international, Phil Bardsley, in mid-air action against Denmark.

Both Harvey and Hill were shortlisted in that category too.

The winner of the overall, UK prize is the Mail on Sunday’s Mark Pain.

The statement quotes Vauxhall head of sponsorship, Chris Hornbuckle, as saying: “We have been truly overwhelmed and stunned by the quality of the entrants.

“The standard of entrants in Scottish international football was exceptional. Craig was a very worthy winner with an excellent portfolio which conveyed the excitement, drama and passion of Scottish football.”