Lucy Clark, Trans Football Manager, Responds to JK Rowling’s Tweets

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Lucy Clark: Triumph and Trials of a Transgender Football Manager

Lucy Clark, a pioneering figure in the football world, has faced a whirlwind of attention and criticism, including from author J.K. Rowling, after becoming the first transgender manager in the top five divisions of English women’s football. Amid the storm, she remains determined to “focus on the positives.”

The First Transgender Referee and Manager

Lucy Clark initially earned recognition for being the world’s first open trans football referee. Back in January, she broke another barrier by becoming “the first trans manager in the top five divisions of English women’s football”, after her appointment as boss at Sutton United. This achievement was celebrated by LGBTQ+ Pride which was shared widely on social media platforms.

Lucy Clark (L) became the manager at Sutton United earlier this year. (Alex Burstow/AGetty)

Criticism and Controversy

However, this ground-breaking achievement was marred by online harassment, including a contentious tweet from famed author J.K. Rowling. In front of her 14 million followers, Rowling re-shared the celebratory post with a comment comparing Clark to a “middle-aged bloke”. This ignited a wave of hostile comments from “gender-critical” accounts targeted at Clark. Simultaneously, many social media users criticized Rowling’s comments as “cruel” and unwarranted. Despite the backlash, Rowling persisted in her stance.

LGBTQ+ Pride’s Response and Apology

In response to the ensuing controversy, LGBTQ+ Pride deleted their original celebratory post and issued an apology to Clark. The charity stated that it never intended to cause Clark pain or foster an environment of hatred. They emphasized their commitment to allow everyone to live without fear or ridicule, but acknowledged the ongoing struggle in achieving this goal.

Lucy Clark’s Response

Despite being the target of online harassment, Lucy Clark has exhibited remarkable resilience. Speaking with Sky Sports, she commented on the nature of her critics who “get behind a keyboard and give you a load of hate”. Rather than focusing on the negative comments, she chose to draw attention to the positive messages and the incredible support she received from players at various clubs. “It’s been a bit crazy, a lot of hateful messages but also a lot of positive messages and I’d rather focus on the positive messages.”, she said.

As a former referee and being transgender, Clark admitted that she had developed a thick skin against such negativity over the years. She used to let such incidents affect her deeply but has evolved to become more resilient towards criticism and has learned to concentrate on the positivity that also comes her way. “I used to let it affect me… but I’ve had it for a few years, going back to 2018, so now it is just a case of hide and block, sticks and stones. Let’s focus on the positive.”, she explained.

Lucy Clark’s journey embodies the challenges and triumphs of breaking down barriers. Despite encountering obstacles and criticism, she remains dedicated to her work in football and to being a role model in the trans community. Her story is a relevant example in the ongoing discussion about the inclusion of trans individuals in sports, echoing the broader demand for respect, recognition, and equal rights.

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