Football feature on the local man whose work behind a camera for 35 years has taken him to Wembley, Old Trafford and Anfield, and enabled him to meet football royalty and real royalty!

But the coronavirus crisis put paid to that after just four finals.

Robert Windle (56) has filmed at 71 of the Premier League/Football League grounds, 11 National League grounds as well as grounds in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Wembley Stadium (twice), Windsor Park and The Royal Albert Hall. His film footage has been used for the football series Dream Team, Sky Sports News, ITN news, You’ve been framed and even Panorama.

Top players captured on Robert’s tape include Michael Carrick as a 16-year old playing for England Clubs for Young People, Victor Moses scoring five goals for Whitgift School as a 14 year-old at Leicester City and Joe Hart in goal for Shropshire. Current Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette was captured playing for France Schoolboys at Wembley, Callum Hudson-Adoi also at Whitgift School and Chris Smalling playing for England U18s also at Wembley.

Domestically Robert is often seen stood on a platform, on the roof of a stand or simply a chair/table anything to get that extra height to capture the action. No matter the weather, his balancing act would put any circus high wire act to shame carrying the heavyweight video camera and shoulder harness to get those precious moments.

In the early days Robert first bought his first video camera £999 (a lot of money in the 80’s )from Currys in Darlington a Panasonic camera which came with a heavyweight power pack which had the battery and full size VHS tape and a tuner that when put together made a VHS Video recorder. Early filming included making lifesaving training films for the newly opened Darlington Dolphin Leisure Centre as part their successful entry for the local Business Awards.

The first football matches he filmed were in 1984 which involved the U12 teams that Robert managed and the Youth League that he created in North Yorkshire. After moving south to Somersham near Huntingdon the odd wedding was filmed as well as training films for Northamptonshire Fire Service.

As time progressed County Football Cup finals for Hunts, Lincs, Cambs and Northants FA as well as leagues such as the Isle of Ely (now disbanded) Peterborough Sunday Morning and Afternoon, The Peterborough Junior Alliance, Youth League, Peterborough Football Association and the Peterborough Womens 7-a-side league were also filmed.

In the 90s Robert exclusively filmed one or two Posh matches before the days of every game being filmed. The highlight was Peterborough’s famous win over Liverpool where he filmed the whole match as only Granada TV showed highlights.

“It was the only way I could get into see the match as all the tickets had gone,” Robert revealed. “I had looked after the Liverpool squad during the day by taking them to Peterborough Sports & Leisure Club on Lincoln Road for a warm-up session and for them to meet some school children and in recognition Liverpool presented me with a signed football.”

An early business venture saw Robian Leisure formed with Windle and Ian Rayner who were both Swimming Pool Managers filming matches and then developing the photography side of the business. An amicable split occurred when Rayner moved north with his local government role and Windle carried on locally. After being made redundant from Peterborough City Council in 1995 RWT was created with two businesses the RWT 7-a-side Leagues and RWT Photography and Video.

RWT have been the official photographers and video of games for Clubs for Young People England, English Schools Football Association, and more recently Independent Schools FA and Welsh Schools and many more.

Highlights on the national scene included having exclusive photography and video rights at Wembley Stadium for two schoolboy internationals in front of crowds of 30,000 and attendance at other prime stadiums like Old Trafford and one of the last games at Maine Road, Manchester City, Highbury and Anfield on many occasions.

“On the local scene, it has always been a pleasure creating films for young people who have come back to me even 20 or 30 years later to get hold of a copy,” Robert added. Interest arrived from Australia and Canada.

More recently a local retired footballer, who played when he was 12 and was now in his 40s was looking for a game he thought I had filmed and within 10 minutes I found the game and created a dvd for him. The customer was so grateful as in the game he could hear his late father shouting encouragement.

“The value of any match is not always now but in later years, obviously the winning team buys at the time of filming, but the runners-up take often years later to realise that was their only final and even though they lost would like to see their mates and family on tape.

Robert’s skills have been used on social media, as a ‘Ref Cam’ generated 100s of short video clips of action on Facebook Peterborough Referees Association which has been recognised as the number one social media site for referees in the country and as Magic Cam on Facebook Peterborough Society of Magicians of which he is also a member.

Career highlights:

Becoming an ‘FA Grassroots hero’ and being presented with a medal by HRH Prince William Duke of Cambridge

Meeting 1966 World Cup winner Roger Hunt at Northwich Victoria after the game.

Filming at Wembley Stadium twice.

Meeting David Beckham at Bradfield College Reading at a schools football event

Being the photographer for the Referees Association National Centenary Dinner thus meeting World Cup Final referees Jack Taylor. Pierluigi Collina, Howard Webb, as well as David Elleray.

For details of how to contact Robert go to his web site www.rwt-photography.co.uk or email [email protected] and if you are looking for a particular game that you think has been filmed then send a message.