This week, Times photographers Bradley Ormesher and Marc Aspland took in a record-breaking WSL derby between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, enjoyed a superb Maro Itoje performance in Saracens’ win over Harlequins and witnessed Cole Palmer make his England debut against Malta — one of the more memorable moments in an otherwise uninspiring 2-0 victory.
Main image: It was fantastic to see nearly 44,000 people turn up to the first Women’s Super League Manchester derby to be held at Old Trafford, great for both the players and fans, some of whom may have been attending a match at the Theatre Of Dreams for the first time. Here Mary Earps, the Manchester United goalkeeper, punches clear from a corner. I love this type of picture, there is so much going on. Sadly, with four goals and a sending off in the game, it had little chance of making the paper.
Equipment used: Canon EOS R3; 70-200mm zoom lens (set at 182mm); 1/1,000th sec; f4; ISO 2500
Here, the two sides take to the pitch through smoke and fire.
Equipment used: Canon EOS R3; 24-70mm zoom lens (set at 35mm); 1/640th sec; f7.1; ISO 2500
The back of the East stand at Old Trafford was adorned with a huge poster of the players. This was put up really quickly as there was no sign of it a few days before, for the funeral of Sir Bobby Charlton.
Equipment used: Canon EOS R3; 16-35mm zoom lens (set at 16mm); 1/500th sec; f2.8; ISO 800
Youngsters have their picture taken by the newly painted mural of Sir Bobby Charlton on the side of The Trafford pub, near the ground. This mural has been painted over the one of Cristiano Ronaldo, which lies underneath.
Equipment used: Canon EOS R3; 16-35mm zoom lens (set at 16mm); 1/400th sec; f2.8; ISO 800
Fans make their way to the ground. The only downside to the day was the traditional Manchester weather — it was really horrible — maybe with a nicer day there would have been more than the 43,615 who turned up for the game.
Equipment used: Canon EOS R3; 16-35mm zoom lens (set at 28mm); 1/800th sec; f2.8; ISO 800
A rare mistake from the best goalkeeper in the world. The England goalkeeper Earps misjudges a clearance and kicks the ball straight at the advancing forward, Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, with the ball rolling into the United net for City’s third goal.
Equipment used: Canon EOS R3; 560mm lens (400mm fitted with x1.4 converter); 1/1,250th sec; f4; ISO 2500
Crowds gathered outside Old Trafford to pay their respects when the hearse carrying the coffin of Sir Bobby Charlton passed by the ground. Hundreds of people attended to say a final farewell to the Manchester United and England legend — an overused word, but not in this instance. It is a name revered around the world.
Equipment used: Canon EOS R3; 400mm lens; 1/1,250th sec; f2.8; ISO 800
Floral tributes were left under the Munich memorial on the corner of the East stand and Sir Bobby Charlton stand. It was a very dignified day, handled very well by the club.
Equipment used: Canon EOS R3; 24-70mm zoom lens (set at 59mm); 1/2,000th sec; f4.5; ISO 800
After passing the stadium, Sir Bobby Charlton’s cortège heads off to Manchester Cathedral for the funeral service. I like the reflections of the crowd and stadium in the windows of the car in this image.
Equipment used: Canon EOS R3; 400mm lens; 1/1,600th sec; f3.2; ISO 800
Harpenden Town FC hosted St Panteleimon FC on a chilly Tuesday night at Rothamsted Park and my attention was not really on the action, but waiting patiently for this enormous dog to gain a better view of the match. One lady and her dog watching football.
Equipment used: Canon M50; EF18-150mm zoom lens (set at 55mm); 1/400th sec; f3.5; ISO 6000
Again, my attention was taken by just how seriously this young linesman was taking his job, so by setting my camera to a reasonably slow shutter speed I wanted to show that it is not only the players who put in the hard yards on a football pitch.
Equipment used: Canon M50; EF18-150mm lens (set at 23mm); 1/20th sec; f5.6; ISO 5000
As England and Malta lined up on Friday night, the lights in Wembley Stadium were dimmed as an image of Sir Bobby Charlton was shown on the big screen. Many fans held up the flashlights on their mobile phones as this seemed like eternal flames to the legendary man.
Equipment used: Canon R3; RF70-200mm zoom lens (set at 89mm); 1/250th sec; f4; ISO 2500
By using my 15mm fisheye lens, it created this panoramic view as the stadium was bathed in theatrical lighting, coupled with thousands of mobile phone lights.
Equipment used: Canon R3; 15mm fisheye lens; 1/12th sec; f2.8; ISO 2500
There were perhaps 81 brave souls who braved a night supporting Harpenden Town FC, whereas at the top of the football pyramid 81,388 filled Wembley Stadium for the Uefa Euro 2024 qualifying match against Malta. Here, one dad carries his son on his shoulders and I quite like the fact that he made it all look like such hard work!
Equipment used: Canon R3; 560mm lens (400mm fitted with x1.4 extender); 1/400th sec; f4; ISO 2500
In the 61st minute Cole Palmer made his senior England debut, which was warmly received by the fans. They gave the biggest cheers when seeing how far the numerous paper aeroplanes being thrown from the stands would travel!
Equipment used: Canon R3; RF70-200mm lens (set at 182mm); 1/1600th sec; f2.8; ISO 2500
In the 75th minute the substitute Bukayo Saka fired in a low cross that Harry Kane nudged home from six yards to double England’s lead, and he had the good grace not to celebrate too extravagantly against the defeated Maltese players. Taken on my remotely controlled camera positioned by the net, I was pleased it captured this moment.
Equipment used: Canon R3; 16-35mm wide-angle zoom lens (set at 16mm); 1/1600th sec; f3.5; ISO 2500
On Saturday I covered the Gallagher Premiership fixture between Harlequins and Saracens at Twickenham Stoop. This was one of those moments when I quickly scrambled to find my mobile phone to capture this Quins fan, as he was so elaborately dressed for the occasion.
Equipment used: Apple iPhone SE
Maro Itoje, the Saracens lock, feels the attention of his England team-mate Marcus Smith, the Harlequins fly half, but he seemed to simply swat him off like an annoying fly and continue on a rampaging run in the first half.
Equipment used: Canon R3; 400mm lens; 1/1300th sec; f2.8; ISO 5000
The Saracens hooker Jamie George, guided by an advancing pack, scored just before half-time as Itoje celebrates a dynamic performance.
Equipment used: Canon R3; 400mm lens; 1/1000th sec; f2.8; ISO 5000
I particularly like this now seemingly traditional routine of rugby players who walk around the pitch and purposely meet and greet their family and friends in the stands. The defeated Harlequins players were accompanied by their children and acknowledged the home support with gracious applause, but the Saracens’ stars quite rightly revelled in the 38-10 victory.
Equipment used: Canon 16-35mm wide-angle lens (set at 25mm); 1/800th sec; f2.8; ISO 6400
I purposely set out on Sunday to capture another sport to make up my collection and found these three players at Harpenden Common Golf Club. This would have been a blaze of autumnal colour if the sun had been shining, but I had to simply settle for this lovely view.
Equipment used: Canon R3; RF70-200mm lens (set at 200mm); 1/640th sec; f5.6; ISO 400
