The Game Changers

Carol Bates has always been a football fan but grew up in the 70’s when girls weren’t allowed to play football. At age 48, Carol set up the Crawley Old Girls to revive football for the ‘missed generation’ of women.  What started with ten friends, Women’s Recreational Football (as its now known) now has over 100 women, aged from 25 into late 60s playing regularly. In this episode, Carol talks about...

Francesca Brown is founder of the award winning Goals4Girls development programme and a Prince’s Trust Ambassador. She received the 2016 Young Achievers Pride of Britain Award for her success in empowering young women through sports and education.  In this episode, she discusses the vital role sport played in her formative years, her battle with mental health, heading to London on her 18th birthda...

Fleur Robinson is an accomplished commercial leader with a huge passion for putting football at the heart of the community and making a positive difference to people’s lives.  Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers Hosted by Sue Anstiss Produc...

With 71 international caps under her belt, spanning 14 years, Anita Asante is a formidable England defender currently playing top club football for Aston Villa.  In this episode, she shares her hopes for the inclusivity of the game, playing over seas, using her platform to 'voice up' for the LGBTQ plus community and putting the onus back on the Governing Bodies to govern the politics and...

Kelly Cates is an award-winning broadcaster who has successfully fronted sports reporting for two decades.  As the eldest child of former Liverpool player and manager, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Kelly shares how she has had fight for acceptance within the industry, the journey of Sky Sports News from infancy to roaring success, her feelings upon hearing the Hillsborough verdict and and the stigma she has...

With 172 appearances for her country, Fara Williams is the most capped player in the history of English football.  Fara shares her experience of being homeless as a young player, and how she went on to have an extraordinary 20-year career. Fara talks about her plans for the future and her hopes for the future of the women's game, having recently announced her retirement from professional foot...

One of the world's leading female professional players, Lucy Bronze was UEFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2019 and in 2020 was named The Best FIFA Women's Player.  Having played in the US at at several British clubs including Man City, Lucy went on to spend three years in France at Olympique Lyonnais, Europe's most successful team. Lucy is now back playing for Manchester City and i...

Chief Women's Football Officer at FIFPRO, the global football players' union, Amanda is a soccer player, coach and data-driven marketer. Her previous roles include Vice President of Fan Engagement at Major League Soccer (MLS) and President of United Soccer.  Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Change...

Maria is Executive Director of Women Win , an organisation that leverages the power of sport to equip adolescent girls and young women to exercise their rights.  A former Global Director of Community Investments at Nike, Maria championed sports and play as a powerful tool for social change. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out mor...

Professional footballer Jess Fishlock has played in nine countries winning numerous accolades include a UEFA Women’s Champions League winners medal.  Wales’ most capped footballer. Jess is the first player, male or female, to reach 100 caps for her country. Off the field Jess is a role model for the LGBTQ+ community. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National...

Fleet Street's first female football writer, Julie Welch blazed a trail for women in sports media. An award-winning sportswriter for the Observer, Julie was the 'girl in the press box' for 15 years.  Julie openly shares her observations around what makes a great sports journalist, sexism in sports reporting and how much more she's gone on to achieve in her 50's and 60&apos...

The first South Asian woman to coach in men's professional football, it was her twin brother's mental health breakdown and her role as a young carer, that motivated Manisha Tailor to work in grassroots football.  She progressed through the game and was appointed as an academy coach at QPR. In 2017 Manisha received an MBE for services to football and diversity in sport. Thank you to Sport...

Dawn Scott shares her unconventional path to be becoming a sports scientist, her role in helping the US National Team win two World Cups and Olympic Gold and her hopes for the Lionesses at the next Euros and World Cup.  Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/...

An award-winning broadcaster and journalist, Jessica has worked in the sports industry for over a decade, for organisations including the BBC, BT Sport and TalkSPORT. Jessica now presents Sky Sports News and hosts the Women's Football Show on Sky.  As a former football player, Jessica is committed to levelling the playing field and ensuring sport is accessible to marginalised communities. Her...

The new series, which is sponsored by Barclays, launches on Tuesday March 2, 2021 and will feature:  Jessica Creighton – Award winning journalist and broadcaster working for Sky Sports Dawn Scott – Senior Physical Performance Manager for the Lionesses, having previously helped the US Women’s National Team win two World Cups and Olympic Gold Manisha Tailor – the first South Asian woman to coach in...

A footballing legend, TV and radio personality, Ian Wright   is a huge supporter of the women's game.   In this 50th episode of the podcast the  Barclays Football Ambassador openly talks about the challenges facing female pundits, sponsorship and broadcast deals and the potential impact of a home Euros in 2022. Thank you to Barclays for sponsoring this series of the podcast. Thank you to Spor...

This football legend has 149 caps for England and plays for Man City. She’s played in four World Cups and was part of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.  Jill Scott left her hometown club of Sunderland to play for Everton in 2006 and went on to help them win the FA Women's Premier League Cup in 2008 and FA Women's Cup in 2010. In 2008 she was voted the FA Players' Player of the Ye...

Jane Purdon leads Women in Football as its CEO.  A qualified lawyer, Jane has worked at the highest level of football and sport. As Head of Governance and Leadership at UK Sport Jane oversaw the creation of the Code for Sports Governance. Before this she worked at the Premier League as Director of Governance and began her career in football as Club Secretary at Sunderland FC. Thank you to Barclays...

Sian Massey-Ellis is one of England’s highest profile female match officials, working the in the Premier League and EFL.  Sian has been a real trailblazer for female officials, appointed to matches in the Football League Trophy, UEFA Women's Champions League, the FIFA Women's World Cup and the UEFA Europa League. Sian turned professional in 2010 and in August 2011 was appointed to the ‘S...

Mary Harvey was a goalkeeper for the US Women's National Soccer team, winning both the World Cup and Olympic Gold.  A former Director of Development at FIFA, Mary did much to drive gender reforms, and the work she did still has huge global impact for the women’s game. Mary also served on the board of US Soccer for 12 years and was CEO for the US Women’s Professional Soccer league. Mary is now...

As manager of the Scotland women's team, Shelley Kerr led them to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 2019.  A former Scottish international, Shelley captained Scotland as well as clubs including Kilmarnock and Hibernian. During her playing career she won every domestic honour in Scotland and played in the UEFA Women's Cup. She won 59 caps for Scotland between 1989 and 2008....

Gail Newsham has spent almost three decades telling the story of the Dick, Kerr Ladies - arguably the most important team in the history of women's football. Gail is the author of ‘In A League of The Own!’ the authoritative book about the famous team and the history of women’s football.  Growing up near the factory in Preston where the team was originally formed, Gail was aware of their exist...

Arsenal legend Rachel Yankey was the first professional female player registered in England, and went on to became one of the country’s most successful and well known footballers.  She became England’s most capped playing in 2013, beating Peter Shilton’s record with 129 caps.  Having played in the UK for Arsenal, Fulham and Birmingham City Rachel Yankey’s honours include five Premier League Champi...

Gabby Logan is one of Britain's most influential women in sport.  A former international gymnast Gabby is now a household name presenting many of our most popular sports TV programmes including the Olympics, London Marathon, Match of the Day, World Athletics Championships and Sports Personality of the Year.  Gabby talks openly about her career path from Sky to the BBC, and why she's so p...

Series 6 The Game Changers is supported by Barclays and features fearless women in football. It launches on Tuesday November 3, 2020 and guests include  Gabby Logan: Leading sports broadcaster Rachel Yankey: Arsenal and England legend Shelley Kerr: Former international now Scotland Manager Gail Newsham: Author of ‘In a League of Their Own’ and an expert on The Dick Kerr’s Ladies Mary Harvey: Olymp...