[BFC SITE] Reds celebrate International Women's Day 2025

To celebrate International Women's Day, we spoke to a number of female members of staff who work across the Club in many different to roles to share what they do at Oakwell and what they enjoy about working at Barnsley FC.
It’s the people that make it. We have a great team which works both on and off the field. The supporters are fantastic. There is no typical day, every day is different, and you get to meet people from all walks of life all coming together for one thing, and that’s football. There is a great sense of community and belonging at Barnsley. - Ann Hough (Club Secretary/Head of Football Operations)
My responsibilities include injury assessments, management and medical cover for pitch sessions and matches. ⁠I have been at the club for a year and a half. Throughout this time, I’ve worked with the academy and progressed into the first team. ⁠It’s great working at the club, we have a good group of staff working to support each other. The club provides great opportunities to continue developing. - Sarah de Mello (Men's Senior First Team Physiotherapist)
I ensure the canteen is set up ready for everyone to use with everything set up. I am also a matchday media assistant, writing the official match report for the men's first team, taking photographs of the players during the warm-up and filming content of the players warming up. Film content on away days for Instagram content e.g. outside the stadium, the pitch, tunnel, changing rooms. It is enjoyable to work at Barnsley FC as there is a variety of different tasks to get involved with. The staff are all friendly and have welcomed me. Despite it being mostly male staff, I feel comfortable, and it is a relaxed environment. - Lauryn Wilcock (Barnsley FC Women player/Catering Assistant/Matchday Media Assistant)
As the DSO I am the point of contact for anyone in the Club or Academy who is concerned about a child or adult at risk. My role is also responsible for leading safeguarding policies and procedures, training and development, receiving concerns about a child or adult at risk and reporting, storing and retaining child protection records following Barnsley FC’s policies and procedures. Working at Barnsley FC is unique, and no two days are the same. The role is incredibly varied and includes working alongside all staff to ensure that we are creating a safe and enjoyable experience for all of our participants. - Kelly Robinson-Walton (Designated Safeguarding Officer)
Research conducted by Kick it Out found that 52% of women had experienced sexist behaviour in a football setting
I oversee all aspects of media here at the trust including social media, design, photography and videography and arranging the player appearances for the Trust. It’s great, not one day is the same which I really like. The work that the Trust does within the Barnsley community is rewarding and makes you feel like you’re making a real difference in people’s lives. I also get the opportunity to work with the Club, and partners such as The EFL and Premier League on national campaigns which is one of my favourite aspects of the role. - Amy Milne (Media and Marketing at Barnsley FC Community Trust)
I am a Box office assistant and you’ll find me selling tickets and helping with any queries on a match day. I have been at the Club six-and-a-half years now. It is exciting as my contributions are valued at the Club, and there's a strong sense of pride over the work we do. - Jessica Kilner (Box Office Assistant)
I represent women and girls on the FAB. I’ve been supporting Barnsley now for around 30 years and have had a season ticket since the season we got promoted to the Premiership. What do I enjoy most? The ups and downs! But mostly the ups. And also spending time with my dad and two of my boys who I watch matches with both home and away. - Claire Colton (Women and Girls Officer at the FAB)
85% of women who had experienced or witnessed sexism did not report it because they didn’t think it would be taken seriously.
Absolutely incredible! I’m surrounded by great mentors and brilliant colleagues. We are just as much a team off the field as we are on it, and that unity shows in our work. My role is demanding, and no two days are the same — from fast-paced deadline days to planning trips and tours. It keeps me on my toes and remains challenging and exciting. I’ve been supported with a clear pathway for growth, along with continuous professional development. The opportunities I’ve had while working for the Club have been invaluable, and I hope there will be many more in the future. - Abbie Stenton (Assistant Club Secretary)
My responsibilities include assessing injuries, managing injury rehabilitation and providing pitch side first aid for training and match days. ⁠I really enjoy working at Barnsley FC, they have provided me with amazing opportunities which have allowed me to continually develop professionally. All the staff at Barnsley are super friendly and enable an effective atmosphere to work in. - Mollie Piercy (Men's First Team Sports Therapist)
I help the Matchday Operations Officer on matchdays with managing matchday staff such as turnstiles and car parks. I help with any issues and cashing up sales from the day, along with taking the half time draw box down to the pitch at half time. I enjoy working for the Club I support and getting to see what goes on around the club on matchdays. I get to meet and work with a lot of different people. - Abigail Lyon (Assistant Matchday Operations Officer)
I represent the Supporters Trust on the FAB and have been a fan since 1980. The thing I enjoy most is the camarderie between home and away fans. - Heather Linney (Supporters Trust Officer on Fan Advisory Board)

At Barnsley FC we strive to ensure that everyone who attends our matches or events has a positive experience free from the worry of being targeted by abuse or intimidation. We operate a zero-tolerance approach to all discriminatory and abusive behaviour based on race, ethnicity, heritage, gender, age, disability, health condition, neurodiversity, religion, sexuality, or self-expression.


On a home matchday at Oakwell Stadium, you can report ANY incidents or concerns to a steward or use the Kick It Out app. Alternatively, you can report any incidents or concerns directly to Barnsley FC's Match Control. You must start your text with ALERT, then your message and send to 60777. Please include as much information as possible, including the Stand, Row, seat number and names of where the incident or your concern occurred.


We ask fans to join us in creating a positive environment and atmosphere at Oakwell on matchday.

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Whoever wrote the article, their enter key must have been broke on the keyboard to make the paragraphs clearer.

Also when you click on continue reading it doesn't bring up the article.

 

Well at least we now know that Ann Hough exists. I was beginning to think she was a figment of the imagination due to how little she's added

 

Absolute rubbish.

For example - have you wondered how for a change, every foreign player we’ve signed whilst she’s been club secretary has received a work permit within days, not weeks…..

She’s well thought of in the EFL by people who know a lot more about football operations than either of us do.

Sometimes it’s the ones in the background quietly working away who are the greatest assets….. you shouldn’t really need to hear from the Club Secretary - never heard much from Spinks did we!

 

I was talking about her role as head of football operations. She has two job roles

 

Whilst I don’t disagree with you here, I would point out that every secretary I worked with at the club did a great job. And the speed of work permits being granted is nothing to do with the ability of the person in that role. It’s a red tape and bureaucratic minefield.

Since Ann has been in position the club have recruited Nwakali who is an international player signed from a top flight Portuguese outfit. Farrugia who had played in a UEFA competition. And Lewis who is an international and last played in the MLS. They’re all straightforward applications.

The foreign loanee goalies were from Premier League clubs so no issues, and both internationals. So the only one that could pose any questions would be Rodrigues. I assume he’s one of the non-qualifying overseas signings that clubs are allowed to make nowadays, ala his countryman de Gevigney.

Again, no slight on Hough. As you say, the less you hear about someone in that role the better. I didn’t know her long but she had a warm personality and tonnes of experience so it’s an area of the club that should be in good hands.

 

Agreed.

I just think folk are too quick to jump on someone when they know little of what they do and the experience of what they bring, let alone the constraints they have to work under…..

 

Amen to that.