‘I get a lot of direct messages during a game and obviously I don’t read them,” Lucy Ward says as, in her role as one of the most astute voices in English football, she explains the ritual abuse that stalks her and other women working in the men’s game.

Ward’s consistent excellence meant that she was chosen as BT Sport’s co-commentator during the pivotal Premier League game of this season, when Manchester City blitzed Arsenal in April to virtually ensure they would become champions again. But rather than allowing Ward’s vast experience and knowledge of football to enhance the experience of watching such an important match, many men sent her venomous messages.

The 49-year-old, who was selected for England Under-21s at the age of 16 and played for Leeds and Doncaster Belles across more than a dozen years, did immensely valuable work helping young players such as James Milner, Aaron Lennon, Fabian Delph and Kalvin Phillips at the Leeds academy. Ward was the head of education and welfare at Leeds for 17 years and a job she loved ended only because her partner, Neil Redfearn, was sacked as manager of the men’s first team by Massimo Cellino, who then owned the club.

A poisonous campaign against her was ex...
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