FC United fan Thomas McEldowney has won the BBC’s prestigious Sport Photographer of the Year competition with more than 20% of the votes.
The club’s official photographer Andy McIntyre also made the final shortlist, but it was Thomas’ picture of an FC United fan celebrating Rory Patterson converting a penalty against Great Harwood Town at Accrington that came out on top.
Thomas told the BBC: "It was a really horrible Monday night in February. FC United were playing Accrington away. I went with a friend and we were cursing why we bothered turning up. It was raining and sleeting and absolutely freezing.
"To make it worse, my photos were absolutely terrible when I had them developed. It was only when I came back to the photos a month later when I noticed that one. There was something about it."
Thomas’ prize was to spend time with a professional sports photographer at Wimbledon. More information about the competition can be found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/academy/5102422.stm