Photographing World Cup amazing

By Frank Neill

Photographing the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup has been an amazing experience, Wainuiomata photographer Ryan Imray says.

“This has been an experience I will always remember and I will always be grateful for.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Ryan says. “Being a Football lover, I always enjoy watching the World Cup – both men and women.

“I am used to getting up at ridiculous hours to watch the games so to not only have this tournament on at a normal time but to have it in our own country has been amazing.

“Seeing the best female footballers play in my home town, witnessing historic moments and seeing thousands of people turn up, no matter the weather, to embrace such a historic event for New Zealand have been the main reasons why I have loved being involved in the capacity that I have been.

“From a Wainuiomata Football Club perspective, it’s been awesome seeing some of the junior members of our club do such a wonderful job as flag bearers and player escorts.

“I have photographed seven group games in rain, sun, wind and even hail but I wouldn’t change any of it,” Ryan says.

The seven group games Ryan photographed were between Spain and Costa Rica on 21 July, Sweden and South Africa on 23 July, New Zealand’s Football Ferns and the Philippines on 25 July, USA and the Netherlands on 27 July, Japan and Spain on 31 July, and South Africa and Italy on 2 August.

Ryan also photographed the round of 16 match between Japan and Norway on 5 August. His final match – one of the four quarter finals – was yet to be determined when Ryan spoke to the “Wainuiomata News”.

“When I first picked up the camera in 2020, I never had a goal or vision in mind.

“All I wanted to do was stay involved in the game I love as two serious knee injuries meant I could no longer play and I wanted to give back to my club, Wainuiomata.

“So being pitch side shooting the FIFA

Women’s World Cup is something I never even dreamt of.

“It has been so surreal,” he says.

“I owe so much to everyone who has supported me up to this stage because they ultimately played a part in getting me to this tournament, especially my family and every single member of my football family at Wainuiomata Football Club,” Ryan says.