Nice article about our very own Andrea in the MEN.
Apparently she's a homo hero. (edit: I should know that seeing I voted for her)
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... mo-6178292
Accolades for Manchester City Ladies' 'Homo Hero' goalie
12 Oct 2013 15:05
Andie Worrall - a 36-year-old lifelong Blue, from Hyde - is the only openly gay elite-level women’s footballer and when she is not playing, she's a housing manager for some of the city's toughest estates
Andrea Worrall Andrea Worrall
Joel Goodman
Andie Worrall is used to keeping people out.
A housing manager for some of Manchester’s toughest estates she is currently trying to stop teenagers stealing fencing from residents in Harpurhey for Bonfire Night.
That protective instinct continues at the weekends where she is charged with defying opposition strikers when she takes her place in the goal for her beloved Manchester City’s Ladies’ team.
It may come as a surprise then, that when it comes to her personal life she is happy to let people in.
The 36-year-old lifelong Blue, originally from Hyde, is the only openly gay elite-level women’s footballer.
Out since the age of 19 she has long championed LGBT causes and is a patron of Just a Ball Game, a campaign aimed at challenging homophobia in football.
This week her role in raising awareness was rewarded when she was named Homo Heroes Role Model of the Year.
The obvious question when we speak is why is she the only one? Although aspirations for the women’s game are high with the 2011 birth of the Super League it’s safe to say that players are not subject to the same intrusions their male counterparts endure.
“In the women’s game people like to keep themselves to themselves,” she tells me.
“They are private people. I get people in the game asking me why I’ve come out all the time. I think that over half of the players are gay or bi-sexual but I think there are a lot who have not told their own parents.
“It was easy for me because my parents were so supportive.”
Andie, who has six Wales caps (a long story) and has played 110 times for City Ladies, admits she owes much to mum Doreen, a former care worker and dad Pete, a butcher.
“They have both been fantastic,” she says. “I remember being worried about telling my mum and when I did she said she already knew. It took a bit of time but they are fine with it. I broke down once and asked my mum why I wasn’t normal. She told me not to be daft and that I was. A couple of months ago they were both at Pride with me.”
Andie, who works for Northwards Housing and lives in Chadderton with partner Kara Diggle, 28, believes there is a lack of gay role models in women’s sport.
“When I was growing up there was pretty much only Martina Navratilova and when I won my award we exchanged tweets, which was fantastic.
“I just think if I can help one person it’s been worthwhile. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve done all right. It’s not done me any harm.”
When it comes to the men’s game Andie believes the traditional obstacle – abuse from the terraces – is overplayed.
“I think a player who came out would get grief,” she says.
“But I think fans would say things to get under their skin rather than because they were homophobic – a win at all costs mentality.”
After a career that started for Tameside at the Greater Manchester Youth Games and included spells at Liverpool, Everton and Leeds, Andie cannot wait for City’s entry to an expanded Super League next season.
“The City thing is fantastic because previously all of Manchester’s best players were going out to places like Everton, Leeds, Liverpool – even Lincoln,” she says.
“There’s been a lot of nonsense spoken about how we stole Doncaster’s place (the Yorkshire side were controversially excluded despite an impressive history) and some people are gunning for us on the back of it.
“We just bid for a place like everyone else did.”
One side they will not be up against is United. The Reds cater for girls up to the age of 18 but have no ladies team – a situation they are currently reviewing.
“I think it’s great United don’t have a team because we pick up all their best players when they get to 18 but that’s the City fan in me!” says Andie.
“Being serious, it is a shame because a club with that name and of that stature should really have a women’s team.”
It is not hard to warm to Andie. Open, honest and chatty she is a million miles away from her stereotypically sullen male counterparts. But when we end the conversation and she prepares to return to work that protective instinct kicks in again.
“I manage a group of six and we look after 2,000 homes,” she says. “At the moment a lot of my time is spent trying to help people deal with the bedroom tax. I see a lot poverty and it can be quite sad.”
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