From launching her own women’s football show to championing the next generation of coaches, Alex Scott speaks to Stylist about backing herself, the power of role models and why the fight for greater representation is far from over.
If there’s anyone who knows the value of role models within women’s sport, it’s Alex Scott. The former England footballer and sports presenter is one of the most prominent figures in the world of football and has repeatedly championed greater representation at all levels of the sport she grew up playing and loving. It’s something she’s continued to advocate for throughout her broadcasting career, having fronted the BBC’s Football Focus from 2021 until its final episode in May this year. She also presented the Uefa Women’s Champions League on Disney+, but decided to step away from the role to focus on her latest venture, One More Word WSL, which she launched through her own production company, First Cap Productions.
It’s this passion for championing women’s football and creating opportunities for the next generation that brings us together over the phone on a chilly October evening, shortly after Scott has paid a visit to her former secondary school, Langdon Park. Having been named as a new ambassador for Chase, as part of its partnership with the Home Nations football associations, Scott is keen to talk about the importance of role models and making football more accessible to the next generation. It’s a cause that sits at the heart of Chase’s football coaching programme, which helps people from low-income backgrounds across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales access fully funded coaching qualifications.
And it’s not just at a grassroots level that Scott is working to create opportunities within women’s football. She’s also been busy with her latest venture, One More Word WSL, a new show in which she joins fellow former England internationals Fara Williams and Anita Asante to discuss the weekend’s Women’s Super League action. Launched after the cancellation of the BBC’s The Women’s Football Show, One More Word is, at the time of writing, entirely self-funded by Scott. And while the show and Chase’s coaching programme might operate at different levels of the game, they share a common ambition: ensuring the next generation of women in football has more opportunities, more visibility and more role models to look up to.
Here, Scott tells us all about her latest school visit, the upcoming Fifa Women’s World Cup and the importance of not only advocating for representation but actively creating the opportunities she wants to see in the world of football.
Hi Alex! What’s it been like being back at your old school?
Oh my gosh, it’s brought back so many memories. Just walking through those gates again took me right back to when I used to be here in my school uniform and playing football at lunchtime with the boys. It’s been great. A lot has changed, but then nothing’s changed. I walked past my England shirt, and that’s still in a frame!
Who made the biggest difference to you when you were growing up?
Today has reminded me of my youth worker, Edwin Lewis, and the role he played for me and so many in this area. I think for him, giving us a place to go from school – after school – to having that community feel and seeing a group of kids that were struggling in some way or another, just making us feel like we can be something bigger than what the outside world [expected for us]. So Edwin definitely played a key role.
The Chase football coaching programme is helping people from low-income backgrounds access coaching qualifications. Why are initiatives like this so important for the future of the game?
What’s so key and important about [the programme] is it removes that financial burden or the worry that, “Oh no, I can’t do that because I might be out of pocket” or “I can’t get that qualification.” There’s now an opportunity for you to go and do that. And not only to be a role model, but there are so many people in the area that, once someone sees you do it, it has that knock-on effect and that chain reaction. Then other people can think, “Oh, well, so-and-so did it. I can now apply for that. I can get a qualification.” And that’s the legacy that you then leave with an initiative like this. So that’s the hope, and I think it’s a great thing.
Credit: Chase
If you sat down with your teenage self, what would you tell her?
That’s just making me smile right now. I would say that it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be some journey and it’s going to be a wild ride. But you’ll actually look back on it all and pinch yourself and still tell yourself, “Can you believe you actually did that?” I still maybe don’t believe it, but I did it somehow. I’ve been telling the kids today, I think it all starts with belief in yourself, because I spent so long chasing belief in other people that maybe I didn’t see the real me. So I think it’s definitely the belief in yourself – that’s where it needs to start.
You recently launched One More Word. What conversations are you hoping to create through that platform?
Coming to the school today, people just see that I am Alex Scott from east London. Yes, I’m on TV. Yes, I’m in FC27. But I’m actually here, and it all feels real. I’m just a real human. And what I’ve loved about One More Word is people now seeing the journey from that first episode of rushing around to get something together for the women’s football community to now being on episode five. Everyone’s like, “Wow, there’s a difference, the improvement.” Because I think that shows real life. It’s not all shiny, massive TV studios. It’s the work to get there. But when you do see it improve, you’re just like, “Yeah, everyone’s been on the journey with me.”
And the thing is, like what I keep saying, it’s not a me thing. It’s an us thing. We’re all in it together. Everyone tunes in every week. I think that’s the part I’m loving. The fact that I’m carrying the set myself – this is what it sometimes takes. Hopefully within a couple of weeks, we’ll get some backing and some sponsorship, and we will have a home. With women’s sport especially, you kind of have to go out and prove that it’s worth people paying attention to. We hope it’s going to get better and better; there are still fights, and there are still doors. We just need to keep fighting, but showing up at the same time.
What have you made of England’s recent performances? Will you be watching England v Greece?
Oh, my gosh: 100%. Well, actually, no. I’ll be catching up on my phone because I’m going to see Celine Dion for my birthday. I am that person. I will be watching on my phone. I’m always checking in; it’s ingrained in me. I watched the game the other day, and I don’t know… I think sometimes, obviously being in that team, it’s about getting the job done. So I think, personally, some of the headlines have been harsh. We want the Lionesses to play well, but it’s about making sure that they qualify and get on the plane first and foremost. A win is a win. So yeah, I see lots of positives from the game, and sometimes, we can get caught up in the negatives too much.
Are you excited for the World Cup next year?
Yes, I just love tournaments. I’ve been to Brazil once. I did some charity work over there, and it was a vibe. So to have a World Cup there… I remember growing up playing football in a football cage, and we always did Wembley Fives – and you were either England, Brazil or Holland because they were the most skilful players. So to hopefully get to a World Cup and be a part of it over there would be amazing.
How was it being at the men’s World Cup and experiencing that this summer?
It was great! I was working with Fox Soccer over there, so to travel around and experience how intense it was… I love tournaments. There’s so much talk that goes into tournaments or the Olympics, but as soon as it starts, it just takes you back to being a kid and enjoying football and enjoying sport. It has such a way of bringing people together and creating a vibe. So that’s what I just love about it.
What’s next for you?
Personally, it’s all the effort put into One More Word and the production company, First Cap, that I’ve set up. For all the reasons we just spoke about. Sometimes, it’s just taking that gamble. I think it’s a lot easier for men in financial terms, but I just know that it’s going to be worth it. The community is there, and there is a space for more women’s sports shows. So I’m just going to keep working hard to tell those stories.
For more information on the Chase football coaching programme, click here.
Images: Chase