WORLD AT HER FEET

After struggling to find early football experience Sara is now helping shape Women’s game at FIFA

SHE’S got one of the world’s best football jobs – but the road to success was far from straightforward for former Northern Ireland captain Sara Booth.

The Belfast native, now based in Zurich for her work with FIFA, says growing up she had no opportunities in football – and spent her childhood hammering the doors down to find a way in to the sport.

“My experience was a very challenging one,” said Sara, who now works as

Head of Women’s Football Competitions at Fifa.

“There were no opportunities to play in girls’ teams, and when I eventually did get into a team at 14 and then into the women’s leagues, the standard was very poor.

The number of matches at international level were few and far between.”

Sara’s frustration with women’s football and how it was perceived extended beyond Northern Ireland, too.

“From the age of 14 I was writing letters to the TV stations and newspapers asking why there was no coverage of women’s football,” said Sara; “I even got a letter back from Blue Peter in response to one that I sent them.”

With the backing of her family, Sara, who was tournament director of the 2017 UEFA Women’s U19s European Championship held in Northern Ireland, made her debut for the international side at 16 and started volunteering for the NIWFA.

A scholarship to the States cemented something in her mind she’d known for years – that she had to pursue a career in football.

“Playing and being captain for Northern Ireland were the proudest moments of my career,” said Sara, who represented Northern Ireland for 15 years before becoming women’s domestic football manager for the Irish FA.

“It was such an honour to represent my country and the fact I was captain made it even more special.”

And the sportswoman’s involvement didn’t stop there – she blazed the trail for young female fans coming behind her and earned an MBE for her efforts. “Women’s football has changed dramatically in Northern Ireland over the last 20 years. The number of girls playing at club and school level has soared and it was amazing to see the euphoria created last year for the

UEFA Women’s Under 19 Championship,” said Sara who is supporting Electric Ireland’s Game Changers campaign. “I hope my work, and all the work of my colleagues and all the volunteers, has contributed to the growth of the women’s game. “More importantly I hope other young girls will want to follow in my footsteps - a young girl growing up in North Belfast who struggled to fit in at school because she played football, but is now working in women’s football on the world stage.”

But she says there’s much more still to do.“there is still so much room for growth and improvement, but with the IFA, NIWFA and NIFL working together I hope the game will continue to develop.

“We need to keep building on the progress within schools’ football and the important thing is that the girls transition from the school environment into their local clubs.

“At league level, the challenge for the top teams is to ensure they continue to professionalise their approach to the delivery of the game and that eventually a club licensing system comes into place at that level.”

So does Sara have any advice for young girls hoping to make a career from football?

“Work hard and don’t be afraid to make the sacrifices to be the best,” she said.

“But also enjoy every second because the time goes by so quickly.”