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Sitting with Sir Alex and Being 'Knocked Out' – A Lenswoman's Stories
Picture receiving an invitation to sit next to Sir Alex Ferguson in the United dugout during a pivotal European match. What would you do?
For photographer the lenswoman, this wasn't a hypothetical on a torrential night in Moscow in 1992. Soaked from the sideways rain, she was faced with an unlikely choice: a perfect but soggy shooting position or a dry seat between Ferguson and his right-hand man Brian Kidd.
As the pioneering woman photographer to gain Premier League accreditation, unusual situations were par for the course. She chose the dugout.
'Come and Sit Between Kiddo and Me'
Following a goalless first leg in Manchester, the return fixture in Russia was as unpredictable as the weather. Haroun recalls witnessing rain that severe. Her equipment was drenched, and her cameras were likely to fail of failing.
Spotted by Ferguson in the second half, he asked, "Are you a bit wet?" before telling her to "Sit between Kiddo and myself." She passed the rest of the match there, even if she would have preferred behind the goal for better shots.
After another 0-0 draw, United were defeated on penalties. Centre-back Gary Pallister, who failed to convert the final kick, was seen crying into his shirt. Facing the dugout, he presented Haroun with a perfect back-page image.
Preparing her flash, she thought Ferguson would be furious. As expected, the manager glared at her and declared, "Do that, I'll never speak to you again!"
'My Gender Made Me a Target'
Despite her long-standing family connections to Manchester United—with relatives having served as directors—Haroun's journey as a woman in a male-dominated field was not always easy.
She struggled to be respected and felt she was frequently "singled out" by stewards and police as the "weakest link." The discrimination came to a head with an arrest at a fiery Leeds vs. Manchester United match, where fan trouble erupted.
"I was the one that got arrested because they saw me as the weakest link, I'm a woman," she stated.
Remembering the Wright Way
Being close to the pitch came with very real risks. Haroun was once "rendered unconscious" by missiles thrown by supporters at an English club match in Turkey.
The danger also came from the players themselves. Strikes from legends like Wayne Rooney and Denis Irwin also sent her sprawling. After one such incident, Bryan Robson allegedly quipped, "If you're going to kill a photographer, Denis, make sure it's not the chairman's cousin!"
Yet, players could also be helpful. Before an Arsenal match, she asked iconic striker Ian Wright to celebrate her if he scored. He scored, but initially ran the wrong way.
Fortunately, Wright remembered, stopped, turned back, and charged towards her with arms outstretched, allowing for the "ideal picture" she had hoped for.
A Feline Named Carrington
Beyond football, Haroun is a dedicated cat lover. Her family of seven cats once grew thanks to an surprise call from a long-serving staff member at Manchester United's Carrington training ground.
Informed of an stray cat, Haroun was hesitant—she was caring for 23 at the time. But, a familiar gruff voice took the phone and instructed her: "You have to take it!"
Following Sir Alex Ferguson's command, she took in the cat and christened her Carrington.
James Shepherd
A seasoned business strategist with over a decade of experience in digital marketing and corporate growth initiatives.
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