FOOTBALL4GOOD MAGAZINE - DECEMBER 2019

Pitch-side photographer: Siobhan Chamberlain captures her Manchester United colleagues and fellow Common Goal members on camera. (Top and Centre Right: Jane Ross; Centre Left: Juan Mata; Bottom: Casey Stoney). studying, allowed her to be both academic and sporty, providing the adequate security to a career in football, which the game alone didn’t offer women at the time. Notably, when asked what makes a good keep- er, her answer is “awareness”. A trait that seems to tie in perfectly for a footballer with such an array of interests. “I think you need awareness of what’s going on around you.” Also important, she continues, “is decision-making. You may not touch the ball for a long period of time but then you’ve got to make the right decision when the ball does come your way.” Bravery and agility follow closely behind. Barring agility, all of these traits seem hugely relevant in her decisions to take up photogra- phy and to join Common Goal. “In a way, with photography,” she says, “you also need to have an awareness of what’s going to happen. You need to understand people’s movements and be able to put your- self where they are going, to be able to get the best pictures.” Her pictures display what can only be described as footballing empathy, capturing moments per- haps only a fellow player could know are signifi- cant. Many of which are pauses in play, fleeting moments in matches when players are thinking at their deepest before they make a pivotal decision. She captures dynamic turns, set-piece planning, as well as the ecstasy of celebrations. Her ability to understand people goes beyond the pitch or the lens, and has led to taking the 1% pledge. “I think it’s important to use your platform the right way. You are in such a privileged position as a professional footballer that if you don’t use it to help others, to improve society and the way the world is developing, then I think you are wasting a massive opportunity.” Are these views discussed in the dressing room, with players ever-increasingly em- barking on a career in professional football straight after leaving school? “There are some young girls in our team, who’ve entered the environment of profes- sional football very quickly and who haven’t experienced much else.” Though their lives are not as detached from their non-footballing peers as it is the case in, say, men’s football, she warns that this singular focus can alter perceptions of reality, where “other people’s fears are not quite their fears.” “When I was 16, 17, or even a bit older when I finished university, I was working full time along- side playing full time. These players are fortu- nate enough to be pro athletes straight away.” “I think that, ultimately, that changes your per- ception of life because you didn’t have to com- promise as much. It doesn’t mean that it is not still incredibly hard to have a successful career.” She has taken it upon herself to spend her time on the sidelines to show the younger players good values and encourage not only discussions about what is going on in the world, but to form opinions as well. “My advice would be to first be a good person and also remember why you are doing what you’re doing,” and adds, “I want help others help others. The women’s game is growing so rapidly, every player is a role model now and they need to un- derstand they’re inspiring the next generation.” That being said, she is quick to emphasise the importance of enjoyment for success: “It’s easy to lose track of why we’re doing what we do. You need to enjoy being a footballer and play with a smile on your face because that’s what got you here.” SIOBHAN CHAMBERLAIN BORN : 15 TH AUGUST 1983 IN LONDON, ENGLAND CURRENT TEAM: MANCHESTER UNITEDW.F.C. (GOALKEEPER) 65 SIOBHANCHAMBERLAIN : ADIFFERENTPICTUREOF FOOTBALL