The 1970s Lionesses and new photographer, HY MONEY, at TopFoto
Never before represented, photographer Hy Money has now signed with TopFoto and work on her archive has just begun.
Click here for a selection of 1970s Women’s Football by Hy Money
In this epic era for women’s football, today’s champions acknowledge they stand on the shoulders of giants, especially the England women of the 1970s. They in their time were captured by Hy Money, the first female sports photographer in the UK. Her own fierce battle for recognition and opportunity mirrors that of the women’s game.
“The Emmeline Pankhurst of female sports photography” (Jeff Powell, Chief Sports Writer, Daily Mail).
In 1971 Hy, then unknown and self-taught, with 4 small children and no media backing, persuaded Bert Head, Manager, Crystal Palace to approve a photographer’s pass for her.
Famous at Palace for decades of brilliant photography of her beloved Club, her 1976 photographs of the Lionesses’ matches, training and tour to Italy have only just been rediscovered together with images of Southampton, Crystal Palace Ladies and more. The 35mm film Hy used is revealing of the UK’s stingy facilities and empty stands of the time, but also the power, playfulness and drive of the players.
She caught one early fan of Women’s Football at a match – Sir Elton John.
Hy and the TopFoto team aim to piece together the identities of the players and the locations / games in the images.
Flora Smith, TopFoto’s Managing Partner and CEO says: “With the help of players, fans, academics we should be able to get the information into the captions so that this rare and fascinating record by the first female sports photographer will be available for generations to come. For this early period, most of the shots were taken between 1972-1976, at the very start of her long career photographing sport from the lines”.
Please get in touch if you can add to the detail for any of the images by flagging it up to TopFoto’s team via Instagram @topfotoimages or twitter @TopFotoUK
Hy is an inspiration: do watch this (15 minutes) short made by Crystal Palace last year for International Women’s Day. It’s fascinating for fans and perhaps even more so for those indifferent to football: https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/video/first-female-sports-photographer-hy-money-tells-pioneering-crystal-palace-story/
“Hy was a pioneer in the male dominated industry of football photography. The magical moments she caught will be instantly recognisable to Palace fans. With her warm charm and consideration she gained access into areas her competitors could only dream of.” Mark Bright, English sports commentator and former footballer
All images must be credited Hy Money / TopFoto
About Hy Money
- Born in Bangalore, India under the Raj
- Attended the Lawrence Memorial Royal Military School in Lovedale, Nilgris Hills, South-Western India as a boarder. The school motto: Never Give In has been a lifelong inspiration.
- Sent to England in the turbulence after Indian Independence and after 6 weeks of knitting warm clothes for the Christmas Day sailing.
- In 1971 Hy attended her first ever football match, at Crystal Palace and by 1 May of that year she had persuaded the Manager to give her a Press Pass. Thereafter she had to fight constantly to be allowed to take up her position as a sports photographer, from Wimbledon to Wembley the administration and the press pack were hostile to her presence – as the first and only woman on the line at the time. But the players and the fans were supportive “Here comes David Bailey’s mum!”. She held her ground and blazed a trail for the next generation.
- First camera: A Box Brownie.
Second camera: Rolleiflex.
Third camera: Nikon 35mm equipment which she used for the next 30 years or more. - Hy Money is represented exclusively by TopFoto.co.uk. Her first 90 images, scanned from her original negatives, have been uploaded and more will be added gradually over the coming months.
Notes for editors:
Instagram @topfotoimages @hymoney
Twitter @TopFotoUK
Hy Money interview requests : contact Flora Smith in the first instance via requests@topfoto.co.uk