'I've never seen people like this' - Lionesses photographer details major change she's seen in women's football

Manchester photographer Madeleine Penfold set out to influence change within the women’s football sphere. She started out by dedicating her time volunteering for the Manchester United women’s squad back in 2018, helping to salvage the neglected aspect of the beautiful game to give the sport a little love. Now, she’s a global sensation.

MEN Sport last saw the Prestwich local right on the cusp of the summer tournament where the 30-year-old took to Australia and New Zealand, camera in tow, on her quest to explore a different realm of women’s football through her lens - little did she know of the emotional rollercoaster that followed.

“The most exciting thing was meeting people who I was so inspired by. I was lost for words of what they did within the game. And seeing my work out there - that was really special to me,” started Penfold.

“To see my work on a billboard like…” she trailed off into deep thought. “I had no idea that it was going to be there. I had no idea how big it was going to be. “My friends we’re like ‘it's everywhere.’ It was on a highway, you would go into Sydney and you’d see it, it’s huge!"

Despite the momentary sentiment that female players were seen on par with the men, Penfold divulged just how much she enjoyed being engrossed in World Cup fever in the Land Down Under. “It was incredible,” she paused with a beaming smile.

“Seeing all the people that came up for the game, people from all over the world travelled to Australia to see it. Dads and their daughters, well whole families and whole, like businesses and cafes turned into big Matilda cheer squads…

“Incredible,” she uttered after a brief pause.

“I remember at the England vs. Australia game, I watched in a Fan Zone and was surrounded by