I NEVER WANTED TO BE INCLUDED IN A TICK BOX
Former Arsenal Women’s captain Alex Scott was one of the BBC’S pundits at the 2018 World Cup. From playing Three Lions in the dressing room with Rio Ferdinand to a match of korobka (street football), she tells Harriet Kean what it was like reporting from Russia’s frontline… I felt like a big kid in Russia. I’d just retired from playing for Arsenal, so it was great to be there, taking in the atmosphere and watching all the games. Everybody was in such a good mood and the fans were incredible.
Our team at the BBC had a real laugh. Rio Ferdinand, Gary Lineker and Phil Neville felt like my older brothers. We went out for dinner all the time and, when we weren’t watching the action live, we were glued to the TV in the hotel. After England crashed out, we all regrouped there. It was a weird atmosphere; we were eating pizza, barely speaking.
Still, what Gareth Southgate did for that team is unbelievable. He showed the nation that there is a different way of teaching. He is gentle, down-to- earth and able to listen. He created an environment where everyone can have an opinion. Ultimately, he reconnected the English fans with their team. They’ve got their pride back. And as the team were so open to the media, the nation was even more invested. We felt part of their journey as we followed the boys on social media.
Being the first female pundit for the BBC was special, especially as the reception back home was so positive. Luckily, I didn’t experience any sexism from the public, and my team were completely behind me.
I’ve never wanted to be included so as to purely ‘tick a box’. I worked hard to get where I am; I got a media degree, and when I was playing football, I would run from training sessions to the TV studios. I do feel a lot of pressure; I have to make sure I am constantly performing so that I create more opportunities for women. But, all of a sudden, TV stations are willing to take a risk by including women. It’s been a year of change, which has been catalysed by the # Metoo movement; long may it continue.