A CHAT with the Prime Minister about the weather in the tunnel at Twickenham to a Super League Grand Final victory at Old Trafford, Ian Beesley experienced it all in his year with the Bradford Bulls.
The Eccleshill-born photographer had a season ticket for Bulls' 2001 term when they were at their peak of their powers in rugby league.
The epic season saw Bulls finish top of the regular Tetley's Super League season, crowned Grand Final champions with a 37-6 victory over Wigan Warriors at Old Trafford on October 13, but finish runners-up in the Challenge Cup Final.
Stars of the Bulls squad from that season included Henry and Robbie Paul, Michael Withers and Leon Pryce.
And Beesley, armed with his camera, was there to capture it all.
He has recalled what he calls and a great experience shadowing the Bulls, a club he says were very welcoming.
Beesley said: "I had covered Bradford City the year before, this was a totally different experience.
"Rugby league was so open as a sport. They were fantastic. I was allowed into the dressing room with my camera pre-match and at half-time. Nothing was off limits.
"They were all down to earth and friendly at the Bulls. They were interested in what I was doing.
"The people at the Bulls wanted to buy some of my prints I took of them.
"There was a different philosophy, a different ethos in rugby league to football. I could go to every away game. I was very welcome.
"The Bulls were right at the top of their game.
"It was a really pleasant thing for me to do. They were all really helpful.
"I didn't concentrate much on the action in that season with the Bulls, because I am not a sports photographer.
"In rugby league, I wanted to focus on the physicality of the sport. The guys who play it are man mountains, fearless.
"You see in the pre-match pictures I took, how nervous they used to get.
"After the Challenge Cup final defeat, Brian Noble, the Bulls coach, saw one of my pictures of the players in the tunnel. He said that's where they lost the match, before they played it, he could tell because of their body language and the look on their faces.
"I realised just how weedy I was when I was stood in the tunnel next to the players."
The Bulls spent the 2001 season playing their 'home' matches at Bradford City's base, Valley Parade, while hospitality suites were built at Odsal. Bulls spent two campaigns at City's home. Beesley said he enjoyed the experience of recording rugby league images at a traditionally football stadium.
He added: "It was a good atmosphere doing the matches at Valley Parade.
"It was a good idea to do a groundshare. A lot of City fans are Bulls fans and vise-versa."
Beesley also recalled a funny moment with a former British Prime Minister in the tunnel at Twickenham before Bulls' 13-6 defeat to St Helens in the Challenge Cup final on April 28, 2001 in front of 68,250 fans.
He said: "I was stood in the tunnel waiting for the players to come by and someone said to me 'I hope the weather holds up'. I turned around and it was Tony Blair. He was a nice guy."
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