08/09/2026
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of filming The 2026 Elliot James Bransby Memorial Shield, an annual charity football event raising funds for the incredible Martin House Children's Hospice.
I'm delighted that this year's event raised an amazing £17,372, bringing the total raised across the four events to an incredible £42,104. Congratulations to David Bransby and everyone involved in making such a difference.
When David invited me to film the day, he gave me complete creative freedom. From the outset, I knew I didn't want to produce a traditional football highlights film. There were plenty of goals, tackles and memorable moments on the pitch, but for me, the real story was happening around it.
This film isn't about the football.
It's about Elliot's legacy. It's about David's determination to keep his son's memory alive. It's about the hundreds of people who return year after year to support an incredible cause. That's what moved me most throughout the day, and that's what I wanted this film to capture.
As a huge Leeds United fan, one personal highlight was finally meeting Eddie Gray. But what I'll remember most is witnessing the emotion behind the event and seeing first-hand why so many people continue to give their time to make it such a success.
Storytelling has always been at the heart of my work. Whether I'm photographing a family, filming a business or documenting a charity event, I'm always looking beyond what is happening to understand why it's happening. Those are the stories that stay with people long after the final whistle, and I hope that's what this film achieves.
A huge thank you to David for trusting me with such an important project, and congratulations once again to everyone who helped raise such an incredible amount for Martin House Children's Hospice.
