Steve Cooper would not let Ritchie Sumpter into the Nottingham Forest dressing room after the play-off semi-final win against Sheffield United. 'Save it for Wembley' was his message to the club photographer.
And so it was, on May 29, Sumpter found himself crouched down in the Reds dressing room with players and staff making use of an impromptu beer slide during the Premier League promotion celebrations.
"After everyone filtered off into the dressing room I followed them in and that's when the music started blaring and champagne started popping. There was beer, there was water being thrown everywhere," Sumpter said. "Players and staff were sliding down the middle of the dressing room floor while I positioned myself crouched down at the other end. Everyone was sliding towards me while people poured beer and water all over them.
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"The Sky guys came in with their promotion banner and a bottle of champagne for everyone. It was carnage from there. I couldn't see anything but I didn't care. I got right in the middle and got some really good stuff. The smell of beer has only just come out of my camera now.
"It's not a normal day's work. I went with the momentum on the day, but once things settled down I got up to the press box and was sat in an empty stadium and it sunk in a little bit."
Forest are the family business as much as photography. Sumpter's father John covered the Reds for 40 years, starting at the perfect time, in 1978. His son was 10 when he photographed his first games - the UMBRO Cup pre-season tournament in 1996 featuring Forest, Manchester United, Chelsea and Ajax. After taking photos of David Beckham and Gianfranco Zola while his friends were collecting Panini stickers of them, he was hooked.
Ritchie, who has been self employed for five years, was the guest on this week's Garibaldi Red podcast as he discussed his favourite photos of last season, one of the most memorable ones in Forest history.
"It's been a strange season to document but the best I've ever been a part of," he said. "You get a glimmer of hope when a new manager comes in, but when Steve (Cooper) came in with his staff there was something different. I couldn't tell you what it was. There was so much more togetherness. The working environment was brilliant, not that is wasn't before, but it did go up a level. You could sense something was happening. From where we were to where we ended up was incredible."
Scott McKenna goal celebration v Bournemouth, August 2021
"It was the first game back with fans. It's aesthetically pleasing with most of the Brian Clough Stand in the background. You can see Zinckernagel and Gabriel in mid-air. It's what you look for from a celebration photo. I'd covered games through Covid and the atmosphere wasn't there, but having fans back made all the difference. Being a Forest fan as well you do get excited. In bigger games I'm screaming into the camera when they score!"
Lyle Taylor's winner at Bristol City, October 2021
"I couldn't understand why he didn't' celebrate his penalty, but then we all see why. Since Steve Cooper came in they never settled for anything other than a win. You've got the rain, the pink hair flying about. This was after the celebrations and he's given it a good scream. It captured the emotions. I remember for 89 minutes I'd sat in the rain and got nothing!
"I remember driving back with the media lads and and telling them I was really excited for them to see the pic of Taylor. You could say it's the best one I got during the regular season."
Goal celebration v QPR, March 2022
"The rain was slinging down all game and I'd just got a new laptop which I didn't want to open up in the circumstances. After Brennan's goal to make it 3-1 they all ran over to me and I got this shot. You can see the ground staff in the foreground and then Yatesy (Ryan Yates) jumping on the pile. He and Cafu are always good value for photos. Yatesy is always good for facial expressions. He gives 100 percent and you can capture that."
Forza Garibaldi display v Swansea, April 2022
"Forza played a blinder this season. This one in particular, with the banner 'no matter what we'll behind you', it shows the togetherness of the team with the fans literally behind them. To get a sellout every week was incredible. The roar has been different this season."
Brice Samba celebrates saving Conor Hourihane's penalty, April 2022
"I remember him turning to the fans at this moment and then thinking we're going to do this. It was an unreal feeling. My plan during the shootout was, if we win I'll take photos of the guys running to Brice, then Brice celebrating and then I'll run on and get the guys in a huddle.
"I actually got about half a second of the guys running to Brice. I got nothing of Brice celebrating as there were 20 to 30 fans in front of me already. By the time I got on the pitch, there were about 100 people on Brice. When I was on the pitch I couldn't get out. I couldn't find any players on the pitch! In the end I made my way slowly over to the side. I didn't care. It was great to be a part of."
Forest fans celebrate at Wembley, May 2022
"This is at full time when the players are walking up the steps to get the trophy. Mull of Kintyre came on so I've turned around to see the scarves in the air. Before the game and after with Mull of Kintyre I was holding back tears."
The players celebrate promotion, May 2022
"I spent half the time running across the pitch back and forth with each player, then I saw this group get together and I snuck in to get this photo. I like the fact you can see Joe Worrall pouring a bottle of champagne over the back in the middle. You see Djed, he's not shy about celebrating. At full-time when we win, he gives it a good scream. He's really enjoyable to watch and photograph.
"I got some great photos of Djed with his family and celebrating. There's one of Djed's mum and dad celebrating sharp in the background with him blurred with the trophy in the foreground. I sent it to him and he put three love hearts. I think he put in capital letters WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE so I hope he's playing Premier League with us next season."
Market Square celebrations, May 2022
"I remember walking on to the balcony and you couldn't see anything but Forest fans. It was incredible. I'm incredibly lucky. How many people would want to be the club photographer at Forest?"
