Sutton United, an English women’s football club competing in the London and South East Women’s Regional Football League, made history earlier this year by appointing Lucy Clark as their head coach. Clark is the first transgender coach in women’s football history.
Clark was initially the first transgender woman to serve as a referee. Clark is a third level referee in English women’s football. According to the BBC, Clark described his appointment as Sutton United manager as “a bit of a dream come true” at the time.
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Sutton United head coach Lucy Clark gives the thumbs up during the London Stock Exchange Regional Premier League match at St Paul’s Stadium in London on February 11, 2024. (Rhianna Chadwick/PA Photo via Getty Images)
On Saturday, LGBTQIA+ advocacy group Pride UK expressed its support for Clark’s appointment as Sutton United manager and praised his journey from being a referee to now leading the football club. The post generated a lot of reaction.
“When I was young, all football managers were straight, white, middle-aged men, so it’s great to see things have changed so much,” Harry Potter author JK Rowling wrote on X road.
Australian lawyer Katherine Deves Morgan wrote: “Middle-aged men are known for cross-dressing on football pitches. It’s an easy way to put themselves in the spotlight.”
British politician Jada Fransen added that Clark’s appointment was “offensive to both men and women”.
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JK Rowling arrives for the Guinness Six Nations match at ScotsGas Murrayfield Stadium on February 24, 2024 in Edinburgh. (Andrew Milligan/PA Photo via Getty Images)
“Men across the country run football teams, many of them volunteers, but they are not celebrated because they don’t wear wigs,” Franson wrote. “Since this is another show with predominantly male characters Man, so it’s not an unusual achievement, it’s just a man making fun of women.”
Clark responded to X’s remarks.
“Another day of hate fueling the transphobia towards me…but hey guess what I’m living my best life,” Clark wrote. “Every day I wake up with my beautiful family by my side. Every day I In laughter there is also much to look forward to. Who are the winners in life…the ones who are happy and smiling or those who are full of hate?
“So JK, Posie, Glinner and the rest of you hate my community and myself, guess what IDGAF…you guys keep hating and I’ll keep smiling and living my best life. Maybe y’all should give it a try, eh .
Sutton United Women head coach Lucy Clark during the London Stock Exchange Regional Premier League match at St Paul’s Stadium on February 11, 2024. (Rhianna Chadwick/PA Photo via Getty Images)
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The London and South East Women’s Football League is in the fifth tier of women’s football. Sutton United are eighth in the table.
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