Grassroots teacher has seen it all

Sue Campbell
The Relais Henley
Thursday, October 9

FROM challenging beginnings as a PE teacher in Moss Side in Manchester (she found her first netball class hiding in the toilets and they subsequently offered her a cigarette) to being appointed as director of women’s football at the Football Association, Sue Campbell, in sporting terms, has seen it all.

In a delightful hour with Olympian Katherine Grainger, Sue was introduced as someone who does not take no for an answer, evident in her contribution to the London 2012 Games or her first love of grassroots sports development with youngsters.

She did not come over as a particularly ambitious individual but appeared to have moved rapidly to teaching in higher education (at Loughborough), where a certain Sebastian Coe was one of her pupils.

She teamed up with the now Lord Coe to secure the London 2012 Olympics and to go on to deliver an exceptional Games.

Indeed, Sue’s attention to detail in everything from lottery funding to sports science and nutrition through her work at the National Coaching Foundation and Youth Sports Trust has in part been a blueprint for success of our many individuals and teams at international level.

There was a lovely irony in Grainger’s description of Sue as a “disruptor”. She is perhaps more sensitive about upsetting the powers that be than she lets on.

Fascinating was her role in the appointment of the women’s national team football manager Sarina Wiegman and her relationship with the Lionesses, now household names.

The title of her book, Game Changer, is certainly apt. Sue made things happen during her career. The Football Association said they were “lucky to have her” and yet success with the Lionesses was still overshadowed by the fondest memories of encouraging girls to do their best in PE or whatever they chose to do.

Enjoy the golf course Sue and from one former PE teacher to another, thank you.

John Parnham