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Jacqui Oatley one of four WiFS to receive New Year’s Honours
30 December 2015
Women in Football Director and Board member Jacqui Oatley is one of four WiFs in the New Years Honours list.
Jacqui, a board member and volunteer since WiF began, has been honoured with an MBE for her services to Broadcasting and Diversity in sport - for championing women in the football industry both as a pioneer and as a staunch supporter of the women’s game.
Other senior awards to women include a damehood for Heather Rabbatts, our Woman of the Year at the recent WiF Awards; Stephanie Houghton, Captain, England Women’s Football Team who received an MBE; and there was also an MBE for Fara Williams, most capped player of the England women’s football team.
Jacqui said:
“I’m completely stunned by this honour- something I would never have expected for the rest of my career. I feel it’s something to be shared with the rest of the Women in Football Board. We’re all trying to make a difference and actively encourage more women into all areas of the game. It’s also been a fantastic year for the women’s game and I’ve been so happy to see them finally gain the recognition they deserve. I hope the momentum gathers pace and continues into 2016 and beyond.”
Jacqui was acknowledged in the Honours List for achieving a number of breakthroughs since joining BBC 5Live in 2003.
In 2005 she became the first woman to commentate on a football match on British network radio while covering the women’s European Championships.
In 2007 she became an overnight household name after being appointed as the first woman in history to commentate on the iconic BBC programme Match of the Day.
That same year Jacqui helped to establish not for profit organisation Women in Football; she continues to play a committed and active role as a Director and voluntary board member and is an informal mentee to a number of young women both working in, and aspiring to work in the football industry.
Meanwhile Jacqui’s broadcasting career has continued to flourish, hosting Final Score, Late Kick Off and the Women’s Football Show on the BBC, as well as FA Cup and African Nations coverage on ITV. In 2015 she hosted the BBC’s highly acclaimed women’s World Cup coverage. Jacqui recently joined ITV as their Football Presenter and will be covering the Euros for the network in the summer. She will be hosting her next Wif event on February 9th in London.
This year there are 578 successful women candidates in the List, representing 48% of the total.
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I’m completely stunned by this honour- something I would never have expected for the rest of my career. I feel it’s something to be shared with the rest of the Women in Football Board. We’re all trying to make a difference and actively encourage more women into all areas of the game. It’s also been a fantastic year for the women’s game and I’ve been so happy to see them finally gain the recognition they deserve. I hope the momentum gathers pace and continues into 2016 and beyond.
Jacqui Oatley, MBE