Beth Mead and Carly Telford - Women's football World Cup

May 2019

In the run up to the Women’s World Cup, I got the chance to photograph two of Englands Star players. Beth Mead, the Arsenal winger, and Carly Telford, the Chelsea goalkeeper.

What was amazing, having photographed male footballers, was how marginal the women’s teams are, within these big premier league clubs. I photographed Beth at Arsenal training ground and was only allowed to shoot her in a small space behind the building and next to the women’s boot room (a small garden shed). Also there was much discussion about wether she was allowed to wear the England shirt at the Arsenal (due to sponsorship issues). It seems that this proud moment for women’s football and The Arsenal women’s team, small fry to the multi million pound mens game.

At Chelsea the story was slightly different as I was allowed to shoot near a pitch, though definitely not on it, as it was being reseeded after the EPL season.

What was great about both of players, was how normal and relaxed they were - looking forward to the high profile World Cup and their possible new fame, but also just excited that the women’s game might finally be getting noticed.