Catherine King: “I have always loved sport”

Throughout International Women’s Month, we’ll be showcasing the remarkable contributions of women staff in Arsenal's Community department. First up, meet Catherine King, whose coaching journey in the US and the unwavering support of her mother and nan have fuelled her dreams.

What is your job role and what does it entail?

I work for Arsenal in the Community as a head coach and assistant coach for the under-11 boys in football development. This job involves planning and delivering the Premier League Primary Stars programme and planning and delivering football training for the boys’ team. I have also had the opportunity to work as part of the Health and Wellbeing team delivering fun and engaging activities for the family kitchens in north London.

I was also the head coach for the Arsenal Football Camps in Texas last summer on the Arsenal Football Development programme for up to 150 players, both boys and girls, wanting to learn more about football and be coached by high-quality coaches.

What do you love most about your job?

I love being able to talk about and pass on my lifelong passion for football to others. I know that when I was young, football was the thing I looked forward to the most, and it helped me to cope with other aspects of my life that I found more difficult.

It’s a privilege to be able to use my skills and experience to do the same for other young people. I also hope I inspire girls and boys to see that women can be competent in this field.

Tell us a bit about your journey up until now?

I studied BTEC Level 3 at college then did an undergraduate degree in Football Coaching and PE with London Met & Arsenal in the Community. After coaching in the US twice, I returned to study Sports Coaching as a postgraduate student in Liverpool. I have continued to play and coach throughout my studies and even set up and manage my own ladies’ team! I recently completed a PGCE (PCET) and now work as a part-time lecturer in sport at Croydon College as well as being a community coach with Arsenal.

What do you want to be in 5 years career-wise?

In five years, I’d like to continue to use my skills and experience to change lives and to enjoy new adventures and opportunities. I hope I can participate in more overseas coaching opportunities but also believe a natural progression would be to become a lecturer in the academy of a professional football club, teaching academic courses as well as coaching skills.

Have you always wanted to work in sport?

Football was all I ever wanted to do, even though when I was young it was still an unusual choice for a girl. Thankfully, my family were supportive, and I was encouraged to play and then even to follow this passion through my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Sport has always been a lifeline for me, and I would go so far as to say it has kept me sane during times of difficulty and emotional upheaval. I know personally the social and mental health benefits of sport and even the ability of sport to encourage (someone like me) to continue in education.

I’ve always loved sport, even before I thought about what I would do for a living. It never seemed like work, just fun and excitement. When I went to university, I never even considered studying anything else. The fact I can now use my passion, academic qualifications and experience as a player and a coach to do what I do, do what I love and make a difference in people’s lives is a dream come true. I also like to be an inspiration and role model to show young people (boys and girls) what is possible.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Invest in Women Accelerate Progress”, what does this mean to you?

My own journey has been about trying to “fit in” in a male-dominated sport. This was the case when I started playing as a child and even when I did my undergraduate degree. To a large extent, it is still the experience of many women and girls today. The only way to change this is to increase opportunities and make this a real professional choice for women. This means investing in the women’s game and identifying how and why there may be barriers for women and girls.

It is also important to recognise that to level the playing field, women may need a different approach, different adjustments, and a different focus. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I take my hat off to the England Lionesses and the way they have raised the profile of the women’s game but also the real issues that need to be addressed to ensure women can participate fully at the highest level. Is it okay that the first female manager, the first female World Cup referee, televising women’s games, paying professional female players the same as men and the issue of dark-coloured shorts, are only just being discussed in the last year or 2? There is a lot of work to do and there must be investment in research and the grassroots game to accelerate progress.

Why is International Women’s Month important to you?

Sadly, wherever there is inequality or injustice, a light needs to be shone to ensure it is acknowledged and dealt with to reduce that inequality. Despite half the world’s population being women, there are still many areas of life where opportunities are not fully available to that half of the population. I think sport is one of those areas and women may think they “can’t” or “shouldn’t” want to participate, especially in games such as football and rugby which can be seen as “Boys’ sports”.

Celebrating this international event helps to open discussions and highlight the achievements of women so that their success can inspire girls to be themselves and to follow their dreams.

Which women are you inspired by?

My Mum and Nan have inspired me to work hard, follow my dreams and be who I am. No matter what barriers I faced growing up, they always demonstrated to me to be wholeheartedly yourself, respect others and it does not matter what life throws at you, you can always make a difference wherever you go with passion and love for something.

I also look up to all the girls and women who played football when I was young despite the barriers and all the England Lionesses for finally making our dream a reality. I have also been inspired by all the women I have ever had the privilege of playing with. They worked full-time, had children, and still dedicated their time to playing football, supporting the young girls coming through the game, whilst holding their family together. These are the strongest people I know and should be celebrated every day.

What is your favourite sporting memory?

It is hard to choose, I have so many great memories as a player, a coach and as a spectator. I have scored and saved some amazing goals in my time! From the top of my head, I’d say the opportunities I have had to use my sporting and coaching experience to work in the USA have been very exciting and validating for the hard work it has taken to be seen as a professional. I would also say winning the league with my team and having the opportunity to play at a high level in Wales is a memory I could never forget.

How amazing is it to see Arsenal Women sell out Emirates Stadium two games in a row?

It is amazing but why shouldn’t they be able to sell those tickets? They have worked hard to reach this level and inspire many up-and-coming players. It shows that the game is more valued and more publicised but not that women have suddenly become great players. They always have been, but it was not celebrated in the same way as the men’s game. It’s now been given the recognition it deserves, those players, fans and everyone behind the scenes have worked hard for years to get to this point and I hope this continues for years to come and becomes even bigger.

Every woman in the game right now will feel the emotion and impact it has had on the women’s game, and I am proud I wear this badge for a club that is supporting the women’s game the way it should be done all around the world.

I am proud I have been a trailblazer and a role model for others to follow. I am grateful for the women who did this before me and the giants on whose shoulders we stand today. It is wonderful to see how far the women’s game has come. It has been a long journey and only in the last few years with the success of the national teams has the grassroots women’s game been given the funding to develop the game. There is still a long way to go to achieve equity with the men’s game, but I’m sure this will come.