Personality profile
ineligible player. Tracey refused to step down and the game eventually went ahead when a qualified referee MP stepped in. She also hit out after an outburst of sexism on Sky Sports when presenter Andy Gray joked that a female official would not understand the off-side rule. With the Olympics in
that she dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. “Growing up, I thought I would become the first female version of Clive Allen, who was my greatest hero.” Work commitments led to her giving up playing
football after she became Chief of Staff to Shadow Home Secretary David Davis. She became a qualified FA coach, “to try to pass on what I had gained”, and then took on a girls’ team – Meridian Under 14s. Based in Medway, the club celebrates its 10th birthday this year. As one of David Cameron’s A-list candidates, she was selected for Chatham and Aylesford in 2006 and became its MP four years later with a majority of 6,069 – the largest since the creation of the constituency. Parliamentary duties made
turning up every week for her team’s Wednesday evening training sessions more difficult, so she switched to become manager. “I am still involved and make a descent on a Sunday for the matches”, said Tracey. It’s something that I really love, a kind of hinterland.” Outspoken in her quest for equality and fair play in the game, she has featured in the national headlines, most
memorably last year when she was banned from the parliamentary football team because she was a woman – a decision she described as “ridiculous“. She said: “I was not happy about it. The side is
now run by the FA and because of their rules on mixed football, I am not allowed to play, although I have done before when the FA were not involved. I am particularly interested in trying to encourage girls to get involved in sport or some kind of physical activity. It’s something I think we should be doing as MPs.” Months later, matters came to a head again.
Tracey stood her ground when FA-approved referees refused to officiate at the annual Tory MPs versus journalists soccer match because she was an
Top left: Tracey is manager of Meridian Girls Under 14s. Top right: Tracey opens Burham’s new skate park. Bottom left: No relation: Tracey meets England star Peter Crouch.
Mid Kent Living 5
sight, Tracey hopes that the Games will encourage more young people, especially girls, to get into sport.
“I hope the Olympics is
incredibly successful, not just for Team GB, but that what will come from it is a chance for youngsters from my constituency to see something incredible and want to get involved”, she said. “The trampolinist Kat Driscoll, who is an Olympic qualifier, went to school in Chatham. There could be a girl sitting down in my constituency who could be inspired to go out and try for a future Olympiad. “Olympics produce some incredibly inspiring
experiences. I especially remember the amazing battle between Steve Ovett and Seb Coe. I hope these Olympics will have a sparkle like that.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48