Spender was a famous Fleet Street photographer ('Lensman'), as well as being a painter, designer and architect. From a privileged background himself, Spender felt that social documentary pictures had a beauty that would enhance over time. He had taken a number of pictures on a visit to Ashington in 1934, of which some, including Allotments at Ashington, are held at the Woodhorn Museum. Spender worked on the Mass Observation project and was sent to Newcastle in December 1938 for the Daily Mirror and Picture Post. For the latter Spender produced pictures of a 'realism so harsh that we evoked a strong complaint from the mayor'.
These pictures, influential for almost all subsequent photographers in the North, originally accompanied an article by poet and critic (and Newcastle resident) Michael Roberts (v. MYERS LITERARY GUIDE). One photograph, not published with the article is entitled Newcastle United Changing Rooms, Tyneside, 1938. It is an intriguingly lit composition of an apparently naked footballer accepting a light. Spender had also taken one high shot of the teams running out.