Getting To Know You: Eagles Media
05/05/2020
In the latest 'Getting To Know You', the Eagles Media Team - Dan Fowler and Alex Coleman - go through their roles with the club, how they got involved and their favourite memories.
Dan Fowler
Role at the club and what it entails:
I operate the Eagles’ social media channels as well as uploading content to the website.
Having studied Sports Journalism at university, it’s something I’ve always wanted to be involved in and I enjoy being a volunteer for the Eagles - a club I have supported all my life.
When did you become involved:
I first started writing for the match day programme (View From The Terrace) in 2014 as James Whaling couldn’t continue with the role.
From there, I did the match day tweets in 2015 then started to control the website, alongside Liam Claffey, a few seasons after that.
The club were brilliant with me while I was at university as they continued to let me contribute and also helped me gain work experience in the office alongside Liam and Tubbs.
Working alongside Alex Coleman (match day photographer) and Liam has certainly helped as we bounce a few ideas around and (hopefully) do a good job in giving the fans what they want.
Favourite memory from the role:
It’s certainly hard to pin down just one. Before I get to the obvious, I’ll skim over a few worthy mentions.
The whole 2015 season was terrific. We had a superb team on and off the pitch. It was a pleasure to watch them play and be able to report on it too.
We had a few rocky years but the Batley win in the 2018 Shield semi-final stands out. A week later, I travelled to Stansted from Sunderland through the night on a coach to catch a plane to Toulouse.
I was knackered beyond belief but what a weekend it was despite the result.
Then, of course, there was Wembley. As volunteers, Alex and I don’t get paid for what we do and that experience we had is something money could never buy.
From start to finish; the shirt presentation to the players at the hotel on the Friday, JK and Paul Broadbent’s speeches, the atmosphere in the changing room, running on to the pitch as the final hooter sounded and the celebrations afterwards.
Memories to last a lifetime.
Job outside of Rugby League:
I work in a contact centre as a customer service adviser on social media.
If you could trust one Eagles player with your role, who would it be and why:
I’m the one who created these questions and even I don’t know the answer to this one!
Zack McComb is completely crackers as everyone knows, he’d do a good job I think.
Alex Coleman
Role at the club and what it entails:
Club Photographer:
-Take photos on matchdays, training sessions and headshots of players.
-Design and produce graphics to be used throughout social media.
When did you become involved:
In 2010 my Grandpa (Tony), who preciously watched alot of union, received ticket deal leaflet. He convinced me and my brother to a few games at Bramall Lane. We played Fev, and lost, but we were all gripped/converted and started following home and away from then on.
In 2016 I started taking photographs from the stand, as always have had an interest in taking photographs.
Liam contacted me for the role, but perhaps at 15, I lacked confidence and turned it down. I continued to shoot from the stands up until 2017 when I was contacted again. I took the opportunity and my first game was at "home" to Hull KR.
Favourite memory from the role:
Getting my first photograph published in a newspaper of Wheely vs Oldham (H) in 2017, or a photograph published in a Pacific Island Newspaper of Garry Lo.
Beating Bradford at home was sweet as their fans were behind me, moaning a fair bit. That Glover try was a beauty. York away last season was also up there. Ben Hellewell scoring the winner, I was in the middle of the celebrations - some scenes.
However, nothing can compete with Wembley and everything that surrounded the 1895 Cup Final. The night before and the speeches by John Kear and Paul Broadbent. It was unreal to be able to photograph under that iconic arc.
To be with the squad, go on the pitch, witnessing Tubby’s speech and the rest of the scenes in the changing rooms after full-time. Jumping on the coach back to the hotel, and the night out with the lads, and whatever that entailed... What an experience! Will never be forgotten!
Job outside of Rugby League
Assistant Control Systems Engineer.
Design, program and install bespoke systems to automate/control processes for large manufacturing/production sites within Steel, Oil/Gas, Energy/ Materials Handling and Food and Beverage industries. Alongside this, I am studying for an Electrical Engineering Degree.
If you had to choose one player to do your role, who would it be and why?
I’d say Joel Farrell. He's definitely got a keen and creative eye for photography and videography.
