Alex Scott MBE : championing diversity and inspiring a better future for women in sport

Alex Scott champions diversity across football, alongside being known for breaking records, showcasing courage and emerging as a role model.

Her contributions to the sport span beyond her career on the pitch. In recent years, she made history as the first black person to anchor leading football programmes, on the likes of the BBC and Sky. This is just one example of how she inspires the next generations to have a future in sport.

Scott is one of the most prominent and influential black women in sport. Her story should continue to be shared and heard, to fuel the dreams of millions worldwide.

 Her legacy

The former Lioness hung up her boots on the international stage with one-hundred-and-forty appearances for England. At the 2009 UEFA Women's EURO, she secured silver, and bronze at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

With Arsenal, Scott won the Women’s FA Cup a staggering seven times. Notably one of her greatest achievements, she helped the gunners to glory in the UEFA Women’s Cup (now known as the UEFA Women’s Champions League) in the 2006/7 season.

Scott earned a place on the New Years Honours List and, in 2017, received an MBE for her services to football. A driven and determined individual, she is a trailblazer for many, especially paving the way for black women in sport.  

Following a star-studded footballing career, Scott was inducted to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2019. In addition, last year, she was also inducted to the Barclays Women’s Super League Hall of Fame. Both honours are testament to her services to football, both on and off the pitch.

Turning her attention to punditry, she made history in the 2021/22 season with football programmes on the BBC and Sky, where she became the first black person to lead these. Prior to this, in 2018, she covered the FIFA World Cup - becoming the first female football pundit at a World Cup for the BBC.

Overcoming challenges

However, Scott questioned walking away from the industry due to the challenges of being a Black female in a male dominated space. Following an incorrect report that she was due to replace Sue Barker as the presenter of ‘A Question of Sport’, she was subjected to horrific racial abuse and trolling online.

The former football confirmed she was fearful of simply leaving her own house at the time:

“I was scared to leave my house to even go to the shop.”

Despite this difficult time, where she was targeted due to her position as a balck female in a male-heavy industry, Scott showed real courage and resilience to overcome these challenges.

 She was able to come back from this and continue to inspire young girls who want to work in the sports industry, which recognises her unwavering commitment to women’s football and its future.