Kent football coach 'turned down for job over gender'

Vikki Childs said it was the 21st Century not the 1930s

A football coach has said she was turned down for a job because she is a woman.

Vikki Childs, who lives in Margate, saw a job advertised by Just4Keepers South East for a goalkeeper coach.

But when she messaged Andy Woodcock, who runs the company, she was told: "Sorry, looking for a guy really mate." She described it as "blatant sexism".

Mr Woodcock said it had nothing to do with her gender. He said: "She is just not suitable for my company."

He declined to comment further to the BBC.

In the Facebook conversation, Ms Childs asked why the company was looking for a man and was told: "Unfortunately most young boys want to be coached by a male goalkeeper coach."

Ms Childs, 30, a married mother-of-four and an FA qualified and licensed coach, said the FA had done a great job of kicking racism out of football but there were "massive issues around gender".

See more Kent news here

She said: "To be discriminated against when I'm passionate about something and when I'm good at something - we're not in the 1930s. I'm not at home scrubbing a pan.

"This is the 21st Century. Women can do whatever they like, pilot planes, be on the frontline of the army.

"We can risk our lives for our country but we can't play football? Something needs to be done."

She said the company had not contacted her to offer any kind of resolution, she had not heard anything from them and was not expecting to hear from them.

Ms Childs added she had seen some criticism as a result of media coverage, but said: "I like a quiet life. I'm not doing this for attention. It's a massive issue.