'Unusual' photo of Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa earns award nomination

The Yorkshire Post and YEP photographer had already packed away his gear, but couldn't let the moment pass without capturing an image that has captured the imagination of Leeds fans and earned Rollinson an award nomination.

His photo of Bielsa's contemplative moment following the bitterly disappointing Loftus Road result in February 2019, was part of a submission for the Society of Editor's Daily Photographer of the Year award. Rollinson and two of his YP colleagues, Simon Hulme and James Hardisty, have been shortlisted in the Regional Press Awards.

"I had packed up and I was leaving the ground when I passed the tunnel he was crouching in," said Rollinson.

"I pulled my camera, put the lens on and grabbed it."

A Luke Freeman goal had consigned Leeds to a frustrating defeat, stopping them from reclaiming top spot in the Championship and the performance prompted post-match questions about their ability to last the distance, questions which provoked a reaction from Bielsa.

"Your question does not have any basis because if you watched the game, what you can say is that this team has too much energy," said the Argentine at full-time.

"You are asking me if the team lost energy but what our team has shown in every game is that we have an excess of energy.

"It is clear that you don't know what you are talking about because if there is something this team doesn't lack, it's energy. We have other problems like all of the teams.

"It is not an opinion because you just have to look at the figures to draw your own conclusions."

Leeds rebounded to win their next three but would fall from the automatic promotion spots and the season ended in heartache with a play-off semi-final defeat by Derby County.

The image of Bielsa, crouched against a wall, head bowed, is one Rollinson, who first experienced Leeds United as a boy on the Elland Road terraces and photographed his first Whites game in the 80s, is fond of because it gives a glimpse into the emotions of its somewhat enigmatic subject.

"It's quite unusual to see," he said.

"It's quite iconic, I think it shows Bielsa as the person he is.

"The reaction it had at the time on social media was phenomenal and it's had a similar reaction since yesterday from Leeds fans sharing it."

Capturing Bielsa's men in action is something Rollinson has missed, since the season was suspended due to the coronavirus and although press access for behind closed doors games is yet to be confirmed, hopes he will soon be back behind the lens at Elland Road.

"I had been on the terraces as a fan when I was a teen and I've been covering Leeds games from the 80s - I started at the YP in '85," he said.

"It's one of the biggest things I'm missing, being at football matches, but just covering any sport really."

The YEP has also been shortlisted for Daily Newspaper of the Year and Front Page of the Year. The winners will be announced on Friday June 19.