@shecanplay: On International Women’s Day, it feels like the perfect time to introduce you to the woman behind SHE CAN PLAY— Kat Clifton 👑 A footballer, businesswoman, leader, and the founder who will celebrate 10 years of running SHE CAN PLAY this April. Kat started kicking a football shortly after her first steps 🤣 She played street & playground football for most of her childhood until a local coach called Darren (from Central Park Leisure Centre in Harold Hill, Essex) helped her find a team called Barking Ladies, later renamed Curio Girls FC. Kat stayed with that team until she was 15 before dual signing for Charlton Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur and representing the Essex County Team — all whilst completing her GCSEs. At the time, she was one of the youngest players to play for Spurs’ first team. She later signed for Crystal Palace before moving to Brighton to study to become a PE teacher 👩‍🎓 After graduating, Kat returned to Essex teaching full time while continuing her playing career, later representing West Ham United’s first team. Back in 2016, professional women’s footballers were rare and many players worked full time alongside football. Kat was no different — teaching all day, training five times a week, and coaching before she even trained herself. Eventually she decided enough was enough. Kat stepped away from teaching and playing to create a better pathway for girls in football — and SHE CAN PLAY was born. Nearly a decade later, Kat has grown SCP into one of the largest female football communities in the UK. As a content creator and founder, she has built the brand’s online presence to more than 160,000 followers across social media, using storytelling and visibility to inspire girls around the world to play football. SCP is proudly led by women, for girls — because if we truly want to empower girls in sport, girls’ spaces must be led by women who understand their experiences, their barriers, and their potential. Female leadership isn’t optional — it’s essential. “At SCP we believe the development of the person comes before the player. Giving confidence to a young girl is life-changing and we do this every single day. If our players leave believing in themselves and knowing they belong — that matters more than any record.” ♥️ This year is also a special one for Kat personally, as she prepares to become a mum — beginning the next chapter of inspiring the next generation both on and off the pitch. #GirlsFootballEssex #GirlsFootballHertfordshire

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