Alex Scott

[DoctorTwo]

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57096067

The worst kept secret in football is out: Alex Scott to become first full time female presenter of Football Focus.

Good. She deserves it, she's proved it, she's earned it, and it's about a month after we learned via a Gary Lineker tweet she got the job.

She's easily the best pundit on the box, and she has the respect of the men around her. Good luck to her.

I remember Ian Wright saying that he felt he had to improve and 'up his game' because Alex Scott is so good.

What great news for her, I think she is fabulous.
I had hoped she'd join The One Show permanently but this was was in the offing instead.

I bloody love Alex Scott!! Really chuffed for her.

Can't believe how recently it was news that there were female pundits etc and now they're showing everyone else up. Doubtless why they were kept out in the first place...

Love her, she's so natural.

Very pleased about this, she's a natural.

Alex Scott is brilliant. When she was on Strictly, she talked very movingly about her childhood (working class, and IIRC, single mum, growing up in the East End). She's used her status to try to help girls get into footie, setting up the Alex Scott Academy in 2011.

She's also talked about how she receives daily sexist abuse on social media for being a football commentator. That's a woman whose ability was spotted at age 8, played for Arsenal (148 caps), played in the US league, capped 140 times for England, played and medalled in Euros and World Cup, being harassed by hairy arsed nobodies who won't have a millionth of her ability or experience in the game. Harassed because she is a woman.

I love her presenting style. She is a TV natural. She thoroughly deserves her new job.

DD and I were utterly pissed off when she was ousted by some dubious judging in Strictly, because she was bloody brilliant at that too. This is one of our "needing a pick up" videos. Look at her celebrating with her back up dancers at the end. A total team player.

I am hugely pleased about Alex Scott's new role too. I cannot believe the sexist and racist abuse she gets from people (who all seem to be men) who know much less than her.

As well as her playing experience at the highest level, she has a degree in sports journalism. None of her critics have anywhere near her expertise. It reminds me of the survey in which about 15% of men - just ordinary members of the public, not elite male players - thought they could beat Serena Williams at tennis!

She’s great and had worked incredibly hard for the opportunity, taking a journalism qualification while still playing.

From a feminist point of view I was a bit disappointed when I heard her give advice to some young female footballers. She told them they had to play with the boys to be any good, and nowadays that’s bollocks. Most girls getting picked up by the top academies will not have played with boys, nor do they need to. I think it would have sent a stronger message to say that they need to work hard and persevere, not play with boys just because they’re boys.

Thanks for the YouTube link, Tedimgoingmad. Completely agree with you and your DD that she was brilliant on Strictly.

This is great stuff - she’s so good and yes I loved her on strictly as well

Very good news for a change!

Excellent! I know nothing about football,and don't need to. She was great on strictly and it's good to see a woman doing well.