We find ‘fish market lad’ who features in top photographer’s favourite shot

This was a classic case of sleuthing after this shot appeared in a national newspaper supplement stating that it was legendary photographer Don McCullin had said this was his favourite photo. He was one of my early inspirations and is the reason for my subsequent career choice. When I was at college in Sheffield we went to see him speak in Bradford and I was impressed with his compassion and integrity. We published an appeal to see if anyone recognised themselves in the photo and surprisingly one guy said he was the one with the quiff. They were later reunited in a TV documentary…

CHRIS Manning can remember regularly playing football on Scarborough’s South Bay beach during breaks from working at the fish market.

But he never realised he was snapped by the famous war photojournalist Don McCullin, who was touring the east coast of England in 1965.

The photograph, which shows four silhouetted men having a lunchtime kickabout beside the lifeboat station, with the Grand Hotel in the background, was recently described by McCullin as his best shot.

In a national newspaper article he said he had been travelling up the coast and found a “strange place” called Scarborough. He described the image as “very romantic” and that of a lost world.

Mr Manning, now aged 60, said it was difficult to tell but he thought the person pictured on the far left of the picture was himself because he used to have his hair in a quiff.

He said his cousin, who lives in Sheffield, had spotted the picture about a year ago and said he was sure the figure in the picture was him. “We were always on the beach at lunchtime. I didn’t even know the photographer was there.”

Mr Manning, of Red Scar Drive, Newby, said the picture shows they had put coats down for the goalposts but they sometimes used fish boxes from the market.

And he also played in the traditional football games between teams of fishermen and firemen. He said: “We did the Boxing Day match every year. I did it since I was 18 until I was 45.”

But his professional football career was over before it had a chance to begin when he was signed for Scarborough FC reserves.

“I went on the beach with the lads and I ended up with a spike in my foot.”

He had stood on a buried bike pedal and impaled his foot, which ruled him out of the game. “I don’t think it’d have made any difference and I don’t think I would have been any better than the reserves.”

Mr Manning, who used to own Manning’s fish and chip shop in Falsgrave Road, said he thought the other players could have included Fred Normandale, Neil Mundy and Steve Williamson.

McCullin is best known for his photography from the world’s troublespots and war zones. His latest exhibition, Faith and Church: Portraits by Don McCullin, is on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London until Monday May 7.

DON McCullin is a renowned photographer, best known for his pictures of war.

In an article in The Guardian newspaper, he explained why he chose his 1965 picture of four boys playing football on the beach at Scarborough as his favourite.

“They worked in fishing, and were using their lunch break as an excuse to get the old leather out. They didn’t seem to mind me taking pictures.

“The beach looks so heavy and depressing – not the kind you’d book your holidays on – but the image is still very romantic.

“It’s got all the ingredients, the Grand Hotel in the background, that Venetian Canaletto sky, and football, a very strong part of English culture. Now, those boys would be in their 60s. I feel uncomfortable thinking about it, as I’m now rather old myself.

“It’s not a picture of a lost world, but there is nostalgia attached to it, because things have certainly moved on in the past 30 or 40 years.

“I look back at this lesser-known picture with fondness, unlike most of my work, which has too many horrendous connotations – other people’s deaths, murders, children starving.

“I like the idea that I’m capable of far more beautiful things than just photographing the ugly side of what life throws up.”

From the Scarborough Evening News on Friday, April 13, 2007.