Fan named Coventry City HerGameToo ambassador

Laura Hartley is Coventry City's HerGameToo ambassador

A "lifelong" Coventry City fan has been named the club's HerGameToo ambassador to help combat sexism in football.

Laura Hartley grew up watching the Sky Blues with her dad, but said she became disheartened with the misogyny she was witnessing.

It also affected her dreams of becoming a sports journalist, the Coventry resident added.

Miss Hartley said there was still a lot of "ignorance" and the HerGameToo campaign hoped to "educate people".

"I am a Cov girl through and through," Miss Hartley said

The 27-year-old said comments such as "you don't know the offside rule" had discouraged her from pursuing her teenage ambition of being a sports writer.

She said at the time the industry was dominated by males, adding: "I felt like I couldn't be a sports journalist because of my gender.

"The moment you put your opinion out there as a woman in football, you get comments like 'you belong in the kitchen'."

Miss Hartley now wants to use her voice to help women who have experienced sexism, whether they are fans or players.

"It's hard to say 'don't listen to comments', but there is one person against you and a whole army of women behind you," she said.

Miss Hartley said female supporters had a "whole army" of women behind them, and often went to games with family friend Karen Tookey

HerGameToo has a Twitter account which is open for people to message and share their experiences, and the movement has ambassadors representing teams all over the country.

Some clubs have put up posters around the stadium with a phone number to report sexist abuse.

Miss Hartley said she hoped to hold many events with Coventry City, starting with a female fans-only forum later this month, where she will be joined by club personnel, events executive Rebecca Shortland and chief executive Dave Boddy.

Miss Hartley's dad is a season ticket holder for Coventry City and regularly took her to games