Emma: much more than a manager!
Camden-born women’s football boss hailed as ‘a voice for change’ at glitzy awards ceremony
Friday, 26th January — By Catherine Etoe
Emma Hayes receiving the prestigious Football Writers’ Association ‘Tribute Award’ [Catherine Etoe]
MULTI-award-winning Camden-born coach Emma Hayes broke through another glass ceiling this week when she was feted by the cream of the nation’s football media at a glitzy gala dinner held in her name.
The first woman to receive the prestigious Football Writers’ Association “Tribute Award” in its 41-year history, Ms Hayes won praise from Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsenal Ladies legend Vic Akers and England star Fran Kirby at the plush event in Marylebone.
Hailed as a “voice for change” and an “innovator” in her sport, Hayes was also noted for her positive relationship with the media – beginning with the New Journal, whose pages she first appeared in as a community coach 23 years ago.
“Right from the start she’d speak to her local paper, the Camden New Journal,” said FWA chair John Cross. “[Now she] commands headlines in the nationals as well as being superb on television. She’s engaging at press conferences, helpful to the media and always has strong views.
“When she has something to say, the whole of the game takes notice. Emma, you are so much more than a football manager, you are an inspiration.”
Previous winners include football legends Arsenal Wenger, George Best and Pele.
Taking to the stage in front of family and childhood friends such as former Arsenal team mates Kirsty Pealling and Jenny Canty, as well as leading figures from the football world, Ms Hayes accepted her honour with wit and emotion.
Hayes celebrates at the gala evening with her sisters Victoria and Rebecca and mum Miriam [Catherine Etoe]
“I hope my funeral is as good as this,” she joked. On a more serious note, though, Ms Hayes explained that she valued the press because she saw no female footballing role models herself as a kid growing up on Camden Town’s Curnock Street estate.
“I’ve always looked at my role as an opportunity to tell a narrative and work together to build the picture of possibilities for scores of girls and women,” she said.
“I aspired to be Glenn Hoddle growing up because you certainly couldn’t be Fran Kirby – I couldn’t even believe that was there to be seen. The first real inspiration in the women’s game was the US national team.”
Later this year, 47-year-old Ms Hayes will swap a trophy-laden 12 years at Chelsea to manage the USA, the most successful women’s national team in history.
Speaking on a video link, Manchester United great Sir Alex Ferguson said he would be keenly following Ms Hayes’ progress Stateside.
As will former Arsenal Ladies manager Vic Akers, who talked of how, as his assistant, Hayes had been an “integral” part of their unprecedented 2006/07 quadruple winning season.
Described earlier in the night by Chelsea forward Kirby as a fierce leader who had driven standards on and off the pitch, Ms Hayes nevertheless devoted most of her time on stage to praising others.
Thanking her family, staff, and Akers for teaching her the value of “humility beyond winning”, she offered words of encouragement to the female journalists in the room before finally raising an emotional toast to her late father, Sid Hayes.
“I want to say thank you to my dad,” she concluded. “A most amazing person and without him I wouldn’t be here. Thank you for making me, with my mum, the person I am.”
