"Feel the fear- and do it anyway"

Pitching In Isthmian League CEO Kellie Discipline has urged women wanting to get involved in football to ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’ as she reflects on three memorable decades working in the sport.

The landscape was a contrasting one when Dartford-based Discipline took her first steps into football administration in 1992, as she began a 16-year tenure as club secretary at Erith & Belvedere FC which would lead to a variety of opportunities across the non-league game.

Back then, Discipline was very much in the minority and while there is plenty of work still to do to continue encouraging a gender balance within footballing boardrooms, she has been heartened by the steady growth in women taking on vital roles during her time in the game.

“It is fearful stepping into a man's world,” said Discipline, speaking on International Women’s Day. “But once you are in that door, you are made to feel very welcome, and people do not look down on you because you are a female in a male dominated environment. They judge you on your knowledge and skills.

My message would be feel the fear and do it anyway.

When I look back, there were only about half a dozen women who were club secretaries when I first became a club secretary, so to see when you look now at how many there are is really promising and positive – not just in club administration positions, but a number of other roles.

Generally, I have not experienced anything negative around being a female in football. I have heard of stories of people experiencing that but I do think it is getting better and young girls are more aware of the opportunities out there for them to become more actively involved in football roles.

Whether it is as a player, a coach, in media, a physio, administration jobs or hospitality, there are certainly a lot more opportunities now, than when I first became involved.”

Discipline was the first female league secretary of the Conference (now the National League) between 2000 and 2007 and, in 2016, was among those selected to participate in the FA’s inaugural Women in Football Leadership Programme.

She has held her current positions, as the Pitching In Isthmian League’s first female director, league secretary and CEO, for 11 years, in addition to a series of roles within the Kent FA and Kent Youth League, and earmarks the shared journeys of herself and close friend Denise Richmond as evidence of what can be achieved by taking the plunge.

“Denise and I started out at around the same time and neither of us ever dreamed that this would be where we would be when we started,” Discipline said.

"A couple of years ago, Denise was made Chair of the Kent FA and last year I was made her vice-chair.

It does feel nice to have made this journey. When I got involved all those years ago, I never thought it would lead to a full-time job – and a job that I love.

I am proud of my achievements and grateful for the support I have had over the years from my family, friends and football colleagues.”

A large part of that enjoyment comes from being part of the non-league community, where Discipline plays a key role in liaising with volunteers, secretaries, governing bodies and league partners such as Pitching In on projects including the Trident Community Foundation.

Having grown up on the terraces watching Millwall with her dad, however, nothing beats the feeling when the clock hits 3pm on a Saturday.

“The best part for me is to be able to go to the football,” Discipline said.

“Going around and actually meeting the people that you deal with on a day-to-day basis and seeing them face to face, so you can offer them support.”

You can watch Kellie's entire interview below.

Article from Paul Martin, Sportsbeat

Ladbrokes, with the support of its owner Entain, has launched a multi-million pound investment programme, Pitching In, designed to support and promote grassroots sports. For more details, head here.

Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head here or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on Facebook and Twitter.