Media Appearances

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'Living like that made me want to die' - Ex-academy star Sammy Walker says acceptance as a trans footballer saved her life

A trans footballer who was recently signed to a Football Association (FA) league has revealed that she has been targeted with abuse before even stepping onto the pitch.

Following tirade of abuse and harassment from anti-trans groups online following her trial at a professional Womens team, I spoke to BBC Radio Bristol Beakfast Show presenter - Emma Britton

A trans footballer who endured online abuse after announcing she was joining a professional team said the experience has been "hurtful."

 "I fought tooth and nail to be me, and it obviously hurts," she said...

"You can't control peoples opinions, only prove them wrong..."

Speaking to Andrew Henderson at PrideOfTheTerraces on LGBT+ issues, coming out and (of course) football...

Mark McAdam, the sports presenter who came out as gay in 2014, spearheaded the coverage as talkSPORT marked pride in 2020.  

A number of LGBTQ+ voices from across football, including clubs and fans across the spectrum of the sport, sharing their experiences, and how fans of the game and the industry can support them...

Trans in football: Team-mates share stories of trust and tenacity as Football v Transphobia's Week of Action concludes on Trans Day of Visibility. 

Sky Sports meets players, fans and officials who are helping each other thru the challenges they face...

Explaining how the move happened and touching on a horrific event, Walker said: “I was having a really bad time in London. A relationship broke down and I was a victim of a hate crime. I no longer felt safe... It was a chance to start afresh.”

"This episode is so powerful, as Sammy explains exactly what it's like to be a trans person in football - from the fear of what others will think, to the importance of inclusive sides. And if that sounds a bit heavy, we also talk about FIFA vs Pro Evo, and why the number 7 is so important to her!" 

- Jack Murley, Presenter

"The fear was paralysing, it affected the way I did everything."

Not the words you might expect to hear from a teenager who was a promising football academy player.

But for Sammy Walker, it wasn't playing football that was the trigger, it was playing football as a male...