Southend’s first transgender football team

This summer, it has been a joy to witness England’s Lionesses roar to the final of the World Cup. The tournament was a spectacle for everyone to enjoy and some heartwarming stories emerged of many people finding a new love for a sport that previously seemed inaccessible to them.

Southend City Radio has already featured exclusive interviews with Southend City FC’s men’s and women’s team as they embark on an exciting new journey ahead of their first season in professional football. Yesterday, was another first for the team, as Southend City FC’s transgender team met for their first training session.

On a mission to make football and sport more accessible for everyone, Southend City FC are the first club in Southend to form a transgender team and are hoping that more clubs across the UK and wider world will follow their initiative to make football more inclusive.

After their first training session, we spoke with some of the players to hear about the team’s plans and why having a local transgender team is so important. We also spoke with Annette, founder of Transpire, a Southend based transgender support network, about some of the mental health benefits of the training sessions.

Hear the full interviews below

To find out more about joining or training with Southend City FC’s transgender team contact the club via social media.

Southend City Radio will be providing regular updates on the team’s progress, upcoming matches, and the inspiring stories of players and fans who have found a home at the club. Stay tuned for more exciting developments as Southend City FC embarks on their first season in professional football.