English women’s football club Sutton United, who play in the London and South East Women’s Regional Football League, made history earlier this year when they appointed Lucy Clarke as manager. Clark will be the first transgender coach in women’s soccer history.
Clark was initially the first transgender woman to become a referee. Clarke was a referee for England’s third division women’s soccer team. According to the BBC, Clarke said at the time that being appointed manager of Sutton United was “a dream come true for her”.
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Sutton United manager Lucy Clarke makes this point during the LSE Regional Premier game at St Paul’s Sports Ground in London on February 11, 2024. (Liana Chadwick/PA Image via Getty Images)
On Saturday, LGBTQIA+ advocacy group Pride UK announced its support for Mr Clarke as Sutton United manager, touting his rise from refereeing to now leading the football club. This post generated a lot of reactions.
“When I was young, all the football coaches were straight, white, middle-aged men, so it’s amazing to see how much things have changed,” said Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling wrote to X.
Australian lawyer Katherine Debs Morgan wrote: “A middle-aged man was celebrated for dressing as a woman on a football field. What an easy way to be the center of attention.”
British politician Jada Frandsen added that Clark’s appointment was “offensive to both men and women”.
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JK Rowling arrives for the Guinness 6 Nations match at Scotland’s Gus Murrayfield Stadium on February 24, 2024 in Edinburgh. (Andrew Milligan/PA Image via Getty Images)
“Men all over the country run football teams, many of them volunteers, but they are not celebrated because they don’t wear wigs,” Fransen wrote. “Again, this is not unusual because men are playing primarily male roles, it’s just men making fun of women.”
Mr. Clark responded to the statement regarding X.
“Another day of hate fueled transphobia against me…but guess what, I’m living my best life,” Clark wrote. “Every day I wake up surrounded by my beautiful family. I laugh every day and have something to look forward to. Who wins in life…the one who is happy and smiling, or the one who hates it?”
“So to JK, Posey, Griner, and everyone else who hates my community, and myself guessing IDGAF…you guys keep hating, and I’m smiling and living my best life.” I’ll keep sending it to you. Maybe you should give it a try.”
Sutton United Women’s manager Lucy Clarke during the LSE Regional Premier game at St Paul’s Sports Ground on February 11, 2024. (Liana Chadwick/PA Image via Getty Images)
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The London South East Women’s Regional Football League is in the fifth tier of women’s football. Sutton United are eighth in the table.
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