‘On the Banks’- Photographer Laura Gates to release new Everton photobook

Wirral photographer Laura Gates will release her new photo book On the Banks early next month, the final issue in a trilogy celebrating Everton Football Club.

Gates’ first book Forever Everton: A Goodison Farewell contains images from 2017 onwards, with the sequel Commence Operation Goodison Farewell featuring snaps from the final season at Goodison Park exclusively and documenting each match, including the score.

On the Banks is an amalgamation of shots from the Toffees’ historic first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Speaking exclusively to The Guide Laura said:

“It’s by no means a celebration of the season we’ve just had, It’s more of a documentation of the move. It’s a historic thing to happen, we’re alive at one of the most important moments in the club’s history for a very long time. I think it’s important to preserve that. In this latest book On the Banks, there’s no results in it, it’s not like the second book. This one is a bit more like the first book in that it’s more about the stadium.

“Goodison was a second home, and you knew all of the cracks, concrete and blue steel and things like that. Here, it was just kind of like going in with a fresh perspective and you know, you’ve kind of got to find your feet with where everything is situated, but also how people interact with the stadium and its surroundings.”

On the Banks is available for £30, Laura told The Guide how she always wanted to keep it as affordable as possible.

“(The first book) I’d created more for myself. Then, people started to say this is something I really enjoy and would look to buy. I went away and looked at how to produce it on a larger scale and make it affordable. Initially, the first books were coming in at around £60.

“I would say the fan base has made it possible, Evertonians have made it possible, the fans have basically helped give me that platform and supported me to be able to actually produce it on a larger scale.”

“I appreciate that with the sort of world we’re living in at the moment, it’s not cheap. I always want to keep stuff affordable and relatable for people. There are elements of my work that I do for Fans Supporting Foodbanks and Clatterbridge Cancer Charity where I can kind of give back. That’s always something I keep in the background with my photography work”

Laura, who volunteers with FC. St Helens in her spare time, spoke about her hopes for the future now that she has a trilogy of books for sale.

“They (FC St Helens) are a fantastic club. The setup there is amazing and that has brought on new opportunities. I’ve done some work in the season just gone in the FA Cup with Everton and Liverpool Women. I’ve been able to take it from the stands as a fan perspective to being pitch side and actually photographing some more match action. Women’s sport is something I’m massively passionate about and I really care about championing women in sport, whether it’s playing or being involved from a media point of view. I’ll kind of do any sort of photography, because I just love capturing moments and memories.”

As the release of On the Banks gets closer, Laura mentioned how happy she is with the book’s sales so far.

“I’ve been taking pre-orders for a couple of weeks now and I’ve got quite a few pre-orders already, which is amazing. It’s very surreal. The first book ended up being purchased by people all the way in Australia, the Middle East, Germany and all across America. It’s connected me to people, not just Everton fans, but football fans as a whole. It’s connected me to so many different people that I never would have spoken to or known of before. It’s an amazing feeling when people reach out to me and say ‘I loved that photo you posted on Instagram, it reminds me of going to the match with my dad’, the fact that I can invoke an emotional feeling for people is incredible.”

Any shops or sellers interested in stocking On the Banks, or anyone interested in photo work may get in touch with Laura here: info@lauragatesphotography.co.uk.