Former professional footballer Jill Scott has revealed that she receives ‘stick’ for commentating men’s football.
The former England and Manchester City midfielder, 36, took to Loose Women today – less than 24 hours after commentating on the England Men’s Euros qualifier against Italy.
Despite a series of successes in the world of football, including winning the Euros last year, Jill has been subject to a stream of hateful comments online.
The former Lioness revealed that she receives spiteful messages from people who claim she is not qualified to commentate the men’s game.
Leading the Loose Women panel, host Jane Moore asked Jill: ‘Even with all of your experience, do you get stick for being a woman commentating on football?’
‘I’d like to say no, but yes you do,’ she replied.
Former Lioness Jill Scott (pictured) has received ‘stick’ online since commentating men’s football
But Jill has built up a resilience against negativity, which began at the age eight when she was playing football in her hometown of Sunderland
‘When it comes to men’s football people are like “you’ve never played the men’s game, so what do you know?”‘
But Jill explained that for her ‘football is football’, regardless of whether it’s a male or female game, on the condition that ‘you know what you’re talking about’.
The former Lioness, who lives with her fiancée, Shelly Unitt, drew on the example of Ian Wright- a male pundit who commentates the women’s football games’ – and does a ‘very good’ job at it.
Despite a strong mindset, Jill actively avoids social media, particularly X – formerly known as Twitter, because it typically breeds negativity around career.
She explained: ‘I don’t look for validation on social media, I think it should come from friends and family.
‘I think I’ve just learned over the years to listen to the people that matter.’
But the former Lioness became resilient against negativity at a young age, since playing a ‘boys game’ would often result in abuse.
The former England and Manchester City midfielder, 36 has taken up punditry since retiring from football
Jill revealed that she started getting abuse from others since the age of 8 – when one mother told her son to kick Jill on the pitch (a younger Jill pictured above)
At eight-years-old, Jill took to the pitch in her hometown, but left the game in tears at the hands of the parent’s players.
She explained: ‘The boys used to be okay and accept that you can play football’, but their parents were a different story – with one mother telling her son to kick Jill.
Regardless, Jill continued to pursue her passion of football.
‘I always picked my football boots up on a Tuesday because there was nothing that was going to stop me from playing the game that I love’
She added: ‘I think from a very young age my resilience was building up so I’m quite thick skinned.
‘But you shouldn’t have to be really, you should just have to be able to do your job and enjoy it.’