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Picture being invited to sit beside Sir Alex Ferguson in the United dugout during a pivotal European match. What would you do?

For photographer the lenswoman, this wasn't a hypothetical on a storm-lashed night in Moscow in 1992. Soaked from the horizontal rain, she was faced with an unlikely decision: a perfect yet wet vantage point or a spot in the stands flanked by Ferguson and his assistant Brian Kidd.

As the pioneering woman photographer to gain top-division accreditation, remarkable situations were par for the course. She opted for the dugout.

'Take a Seat Next to Us'

Following a scoreless first leg in Manchester, the second match in Russia was as unpredictable as the conditions. Haroun recalls witnessing rain that severe. Her equipment was drenched, and her cameras were on the verge of breaking down.

Noticed by Ferguson in the second half, he called out, "You must be a bit wet?" before instructing her to "Sit between Kiddo and myself." She spent the rest of the match there, though she admitted she'd rather be behind the goal for superior shots.

After a second 0-0 draw, United lost on penalties. Defender Gary Pallister, who missed the decisive kick, was seen sobbing into his shirt. Facing the dugout, he presented Haroun with a potential back-page image.

With her flash ready, she thought Ferguson would be furious. True to form, the manager glared at her and declared, "Do that, I'll never speak to you again!"

'I Was Picked On Because I'm a Woman'

Regardless of her deep family connections to Manchester United—including relatives having served as chairmen—Haroun's path as a woman in a overwhelmingly male field was not always easy.

She found it tough to be taken seriously and believed she was often "singled out" by security and police as the "weakest link." The discrimination came to a head with an arrest at a fiery Leeds vs. Manchester United match, where crowd trouble erupted.

"It was me that got arrested because I'm the weakest link, I'm a woman," she stated.

Try to Run the Wright Way

Proximity to the pitch came with physical risks. Haroun was on one occasion "rendered unconscious" by missiles thrown by supporters at an English club match in Turkey.

The hazard also came from the players themselves. Shots from stars like Wayne Rooney and Denis Irwin at times sent her sprawling. After one such incident, Bryan Robson reportedly quipped, "Pick a different target, Denis, make sure it's not the chairman's cousin!"

However, players could also be helpful. Before an Arsenal match, she asked iconic striker Ian Wright to celebrate her if he scored. He did find the net, but at first ran the wrong way.

Fortunately, Wright realised, stopped, turned back, and ran towards her with arms outstretched, creating the "perfect picture" she had hoped for.

A Feline Named Carrington

Away from football, Haroun is a dedicated cat lover. Her collection of multiple cats on one occasion grew thanks to an surprise call from a long-serving staff member at Manchester United's Carrington training ground.

Informed of an stray cat, Haroun was hesitant—she already had 23 at the time. But, a recognisable Scottish voice took the phone and ordered her: "You have to take it!"

Heeding Sir Alex Ferguson's command, she took in the cat and named her Carrington.