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# Whitehawk FC announce Dr Sophie Cook as club’s first Equalities & Diversity Officer
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/whitehawk-fc-announce-dr-sophie-cook-as-clubs-first-equalities-diversity-officer/
- Published: 2020-08-01T09:30:52.000Z
- Updated: 2020-07-31T11:23:34.000Z
- Description: Whitehawk FC announces Dr Sophie Cook FRSA as the club’s first Equalities & Diversity Officer, taking up her role in readiness for the 2020/21 season, Whitehawk FC’s 75th Anniversary.
- Author: Contributor
- Tags: Community, In The South, Information, News, Out & About, Sport, Dr Sophie Cook, Football, Rainbow Rovers, Sophie Cook, Trans, Transgender, Whitehawk, Whitehawk FC

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Whitehawk FC has announced that Dr **Sophie Cook** FRSA will be the club’s first **Equalities & Diversity Officer**, taking up her role in readiness for the 2020/21 season, Whitehawk FC’s 75th Anniversary.

The Equalities & Diversity role is an FA initiative designed to ensure that all non-league football clubs are compliant with current relevant equalities and diversity standards, including those developed by the **Isthmian Football League**, **Sussex FA** and the **FA**.

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sophie-cook600400.jpg)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)

Sophie Cook is one of the most prominent transgender writers and broadcasters in the country, and was the first transgender woman to work in football’s **Premier League** as club photographer for **AFC Bournemouth** following her transition in the summer of 2015.

She is an in-demand public speaker, delivering keynote talks internationally including a **TEDx Talk** on change, fear, vulnerability, diversity, mental health and LGBTQ+ workshops for high profile organisations such as **JP Morgan**, **Virgin Media**, **Asda** and **Stonewall**. She regularly speaks at football events for **Fans For Diversity** and visited Moscow to speak to LGBTQ+ activists during the **2018 FIFA World Cup**.

Sophie is also the **Player Manager** of Whitehawk FC’s LGBTQ+ team **Rainbow Rovers**, and is listed in the top 20 of the **2019 Brighton Power 100**; the 100 most influential people in the region.

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ea0ab9rxo300.jpg)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)

**Andy Schofield**, Whitehawk FC’s Chairman, said:

*‘We are delighted to appoint Sophie to this new official role. She is a Hawks fan, has been instrumental in setting up Rainbow Rovers and has lots of ideas for making the club even more inclusive.’*

**Sophie Cook**, added:

*‘Football holds a unique position within our society to carry the message of diversity and equality into areas that are often ignored and written off. The game is a universal language that transcends social barriers and I am delighted and very proud to be the first equalities and diversity officer at Whitehawk FC.*

*‘Rainbow Rovers sends out the message that the beautiful game belongs to everyone regardless of sexuality, gender identity, race, religion or gender’*