UCFB Future Sport 2018

WOMEN IN SPORT
Riding the wave
She’s played at the Olympics, won an FA Cup and is an England
legend. Rachel Brown-Finnis had a colourful playing career and has
now transitioned into television. The UCFB ambassador spoke with
us about the expanding opportunities available to women in football
and her new career in front of the camera…
Adapting to a new country and new culture is
something sport industry professionals must be
prepared for at any given point in their career.
The global nature of 21st century sport means a move
abroad is never far away, something that’s especially true
for athletes.
Former England and Everton goalkeeper Rachel Brown-
Finnis had to learn quickly when she moved from her
native north west England to the United States aged just
18, where she was between the sticks for Alabama Crimson
Tide while attending the University of Alabama.
Rachel said she learnt “a lot” during her five years in
the US, and highlighted that her time there not only
developed her hugely as a goalkeeper, but also helped her
learn more about herself.
“Yes they spoke English but it was a very different
culture,” the 37-year-old said. “The education system was
very different, and how people perceived female footballers
in America was very different to here in the UK.”
Brown-Finnis added: “It actually made me more
determined to change how women’s football was
perceived in England because, when I went over there
the women’s team had won the Olympics and the World
Guidance:
Brown-Finnis is a
long-time UCFB
mentor and
ambassador
Cup and they were idolised in the newspapers. They were
household names and I wanted that for our country.”
Brown-Finnis soon returned to England and signed for
the Toffees. Her stellar playing career also saw her earn 81
England caps along the way and win the Women’s FA Cup
with the Merseyside club. She also made history when she
was selected as part of the first ever Team GB team at the
London 2012 Olympics.
It was during her time in the US that Brown-Finnis
experienced the professionalism of its female teams.
“It made me realise that where we were as an England
team was not good enough, as well as how we were
viewed from a media perspective. It also made me realise
how professional the players were over there; they had a
professional league and that was where I wanted to be
personally and as a team as well.”
Gradually, women’s football in the UK has caught up
with the US. From the 2017/18 season the Women’s Super
League will run alongside the Premier League season for the
first time, and in recent years the Women’s FA Cup final has
been played at Wembley Stadium, enjoying healthy crowds.
The England national team has also seen an upward
curve. The side finished third in the 2015 World Cup,
beating the mighty Germany in the third place play-off.
The women’s game is now also getting far more prime
time television coverage, something Brown-Finnis has been
quick to jump on. Since retiring from the game in 2014, she
has enjoyed a successful transition into sports broadcasting
and is regularly seen on the BBC and BT Sport. She makes
no bones about now wanting to make a career in the media
industry, citing the likes of Gabby Logan as “trailblazers”.
“Even away from football, more so than ever, there are
many female presenters like Gabby Logan, Sue Barker
and Hazel Irvine who have been there for years,” she
says. “These people have been trailblazers and the ones
who have really broken through and changed people’s
preconceptions about what voices they should be hearing
when watching football.”
The trajectory of her career so far suggests UCFB
ambassador Brown-Finnis will be on our screens for a while
yet. Watch out, Gabby.
Tomorrow’s talent, today | 17