Filming at Wembley Stadium was a dream come true. Having started my journey filming grassroots football for free at my local Sunday League club, stepping onto the pitch at the home of English football was a moment I’ll never forget.

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This project was commissioned by Bromley FC as a way to capture the emotion and excitement of their FA Trophy Final against Wrexham FC, a club whose own production team was filming for the Disney+ series Welcome to Wrexham. Rather than compete with their high-budget TV production, we leaned into our strengths, creating something much more raw and intimate.

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A Unique Approach to Capturing the Day

We were offered access to the official TNT Sports broadcast footage but instead opted to use a three-person pitch side team, using more budget-friendly cameras. This gave us the flexibility to capture those spontaneous, authentic moments that the TV production might miss. From pre-match nerves in the dressing room to the euphoric celebrations after Bromley’s underdog victory, our goal was to tell the story from the inside, through the eyes of the club, the players, and the fans.

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The Challenges of Live Sports Filming

Filming live sport in a stadium environment is all about preparation and adaptability. With the game kicking off at 4:30 PM, we arrived at 9 AM to set up dressing room cameras, plan our movements, and brief the team. Once the action started, it was all about reacting fast and making sure we got the shots we needed.

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I kept a simple shot list on my phone, checking in when I could, but in an unpredictable setting like this, flexibility was key. The result of the match would dictate the entire mood of the film, and Bromley’s 1-0 victory gave us incredible footage of unfiltered joy and celebrations! Scenes that would stay with players and fans forever.

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Lessons from the Industry

One of the standout moments of the day was speaking with a director from Welcome to Wrexham. He reinforced that our film offered much more creative license, enabling us to capture and include things that TV couldn’t. Months later, watching the Welcome to Wrexham episode on Disney + it, I enjoyed reliving the day from not just the other dressing room, but the other side of the industry It was a reminder that in any situation, the key is to lean into your strengths and create something truly unique.