There is an extra expectation , I think that female footballers have to give and do more . We have an expectation to be more models . We have an expectation to leave the game in a better place or to drive standards here or push for more , etc . Whereas men just get it . They don't have an expectation to have to inspire everyone else .
Hello and welcome to the Game Changes . It's hard to believe, this is series 16 of the podcast , which celebrates trailblazers in women's sport , exploring critical issues around equality in sport and beyond .
My name's Sue Anstiss and I am so pleased to say that , once again , this season of the Game Changes is supported by Sport England through a National Lottery Award . We're incredibly grateful for their ongoing support , which enables us to share the stories of these inspiring women working across the sporting landscape .
My wonderful guest list for this series includes Jess Carter , an incredible professional footballer who was part of a Lioness' team that won the Euros in 2022 and won silver in the World Cup in 2023 . Jess also plays for Chelsea in the WSL . Claire Taggart , ranked number one in the world at Boccia .
Claire represented Paralympics GB in Rio and Tokyo and looks all set to medal at Paris 2024 . Sue Redfern , a former England cricketer who's now blazing a trail as a much-respected cricket umpire in the men's and women's game . Sabrina Pace-Humphreys , an ultra-runner , author , social justice activist and co-founder of the community and campaigning charity Black Trail Runners .
Lisa O'Keefe , a former Scottish international rugby player and director at Sport England , who is now general secretary for the International Working Group for Women in Sport . Kristin Dusting , a silver medalist for England in the 2014 Roller Derby World Cup and multi-medal winning skater for London Roller Derby .
Steph Harris , managing director at Women's Sport Group , who was formerly controller of production for BBC Sport . And Mo Hunt , a legendary England rugby player , who's won a world cup , numerous six nations championships and represented Team GB at the Rio Olympics . Mo's now , captain of Gloucester Heartbury , leading her team to victory in the 2023 Premiership .
The utopia of officiating should be that anybody , regardless of gender , can umpire any game . That's the end goal and I think that's really important that you know . We look at that and it becomes normal that men umpire women , women umpire men . If you're good enough , then you should just do whichever game .
I'm in such physical pain , but I realised that for 45 or so minutes that I haven't had any thoughts about my own life , about the value of me being on the earth , because that's where these depressive thoughts were taking me that I was no use to anyone , I couldn't do anything right , I didn't have connection , that headspace , that release and freedom that moving
my body forward gave me . I wanted more of that .
The new series of the gamechangers will be released on Tuesday , February the 6th , so please subscribe now and you won't miss out on these fascinating , inspiring conversations . The Game Changers is available for free across all podcast platforms or you can listen directly from our website at www . fearlesswomen . co . uk .
This is also where you can find details of all of the trailblazing guests featured in previous episodes . There are over 170 of them . You can also listen to my book . 'Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women's Sport' is free on the podcast , and you'll find the entire audio of the best-selling book in series 13 .
The Fearless Women website is also where you can find out more about the Women's Sport Collective , a free , inclusive community for all women working in sport . Membership includes access to networking events , regional groups , webinars , mentoring schemes , our LinkedIn group , monthly newsletters , free places at industry conferences and much , much more .
And , just to reiterate , everything is completely free , thanks to the support of Sport England . Finally , why not come and say hello on social media , where you'll find me on LinkedIn , instagram and Twitter at Sue Anstiss I really , really hope you enjoyed this series as much as I've enjoyed making it and speaking to these truly extraordinary women .
Since I've started to win things and be a little bit more successful . It's frustrating me that myself and my teammates were doing these amazing things . We're achieving the same accolades as Olympic sport and other Paralympic sports , but we're not getting any recognition or notice .
The Game Changers . Fearless Women in Sport .