Gary Dickson Sports Photography

24/06/2026

As the 2026/27 season approaches, can I just share this with all U18 teams, clubs, players, parents and coaches. I frequently refer to this FA Guidance prior to agreeing to photographing any game with players U18. If we all play our part and follow this guidance we ensure safeguarding of all our young players and we create some fantastic photographic memories.

Not sure about everyone else but I am looking forward to the start of the new season and doing what I do best. Helping players, coaches, teams and parents create life long memories of our amazing young athletes, whilst raising money for a very worthy charity that is Andy’s man club.

https://www.teamgrassroots.co.uk/photographing-and-filming-children-at-football-matches/?fbclid=IwdGRjcASomiVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeXC0PNG-gERmwC3ORJhqGdlqJgA6dc96AS5hdmk7h7LX3KtXMJ2xJBU4G0KQ_aem_ATf5ndcbI1uBbr6fk2TwqQ

Parents, children and football clubs generally look forward to celebrating and/or publicising footballing successes by photographing children at matches and events.

23/06/2026

Amazing numbers again last night! 59 brave men attended Andy's man club Sunderland 🔴⚪️ last night. 2 of which for the very first time!

Thanks to members from both Sunderland groups for opening up and talking through their issues.🔴⚪️

🌟 At our Fans Museum Group: 35 attended to share their stories and open up to others

🌟 At Kayll Road Library Community Hub: 24 attended to talk through their issues and support each other including 2 new members for the first time.

Every Monday, men like you are showing up—not just for themselves, but for each other. It’s a reminder that you’re never alone, no matter how heavy the storm feels.

🖤 At Andy’s Man Club, we’re here for you:
✅ Who? Any man aged 18+
✅ What? Free, confidential, peer-to-peer mental health support
✅ When? Every Monday, 7–9 PM (excluding bank holidays)
✅ Where? 2 Sunderland locations:
📍 fans museum
📍 Kayll Road Library

💡 No referrals. No sign-ups. No pressure. Just turn up, and we’ll meet you at the door.

🌍 With 250+ locations across the UK, we’re spreading the message that .

Help us reach more men who need this space. By liking, sharing, and tagging someone who might benefit, you could be the reason a man takes that first step. 🫂

Let’s keep breaking the stigma together. 💪

22/06/2026

Evening all. Hope to see some of you tonight at AMC. Our partners at the Fans Museum are doing a brilliant event to raise money for cancer awareness.

Most of us know someone who has been affected by cancer and the Fans Museum wanted to do something about raising awareness of prostate cancer in particular.

Why not get involved?
Fans Museum

20/06/2026

20/06/2026

Just like this canvas…

ANDYSMANCLUB isn’t about perfection.

It’s about being real. It’s about people. It’s about embracing the mess that we call life.

Different backgrounds, different journeys, coming together makes this mission what it is…

While parts may look messy along the way, when you step back and look at the bigger picture, it’s a masterpiece.

Thank you everyone who has contributed today but more importantly to the mess and master piece of the last decade.

20/06/2026

❤️

Started by a family’s loss.

Built on a mission of hope.

Grown by a community that chooses to stand beside them and continues to do so every single day.

Today we’re proud to begin a mural that represents the countless people, conversations, acts of kindness and moments that have shaped ANDYSMANCLUB over the last 10 years.

The family had the honour of starting it. The community continues to shape it.

Still time to come down and add your mark.

🖤

17/06/2026

We are at the Bridges Shopping Centre all day today. Come and meet the facilitators and chat to Andy's Man Club.

Talk about the mental health of yourself and others.
Speak to us about spreading awareness.

Or just come and say hello.
Fans Museum

16/06/2026

As many of you know, I spend a lot of my time on football fields across the North East, photographing grassroots sport and sharing thousands of images with players, families and clubs.

What many people don't know is why I do it.

Almost a year ago, on Father's Day weekend, I spent what would be the last evening I would ever have with my son Sam. We had a family night out together with my four children and my granddaughter. It was a special evening, and at the time none of us knew it would be the last time we would see him.

Just six days later, Sam lost his battle with mental health and took his own life at the age of 25.

The pain of losing a child is something I struggle to put into words. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't think about him.

Sam was a keen photographer. Photography was something we both shared, along with my youngest son Jake's football. After losing Sam, I wanted to find a way to honour his memory, keep his name alive, and hopefully help prevent other families from experiencing the heartbreak that ours has.

That is why I started Gary Dickson Sports Photography.

What began as photographing Jake's football matches has grown beyond anything I imagined. In just the last four months I have:

📸 Photographed 35 football matches

⚽ Covered around 12 different teams

🖼 Shared over 8,500 photographs

💙 Raised hundreds of pounds for Andy's Man

Every photograph I take, every match I attend and every donation made is done in Sam's memory.

I chose to support Andy's Man Club because their message is simple but powerful: men should never feel they have to struggle alone. If talking openly about mental health and supporting organisations like Andy's Man Club helps even one person reach out for help, then it is worth every minute spent behind the camera.

To every club, player, parent, coach and supporter who has welcomed me, shared my photographs, donated, or simply offered kind words over the last few months, thank you. Your support means more than you know.

This photography journey is about much more than football. It is about community, remembering my son, supporting mental health awareness, and doing something positive in the face of unimaginable loss.

Sam, this is all for you. ❤️