Manchester City’s new stadium announcer Ellen Ellard on her dream job & women role models in football

The club’s stadium announcer for the City Women’s side spoke exclusively to ManchesterWorld about her new role behind the microphone.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Manchester City are always a club looking to strengthen their playing talent, but after the transfer window had wrapped up for another summer, the club announced a major new addition off the field: Ellen Ellard.

The 21-year-old has taken up a role as the Women’s team’s stadium announcer and has already covered both home games for Gareth Taylor’s side this season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

For Ellen, an avid football fan from Peterborough, it’s an opportunity she jumped at and couldn’t wait to get started.

“I was sat at home on a Friday night [last November] and was looking through LinkedIn,” she explained to ManchesterWorld. “When you look at me, a 21-year-old, and you expect me to be out partying, but Covid put a bit of a stop to that. So I was going through LinkedIn and I saw the job crop up and I thought, ‘That is my dream job.’

“I spent the next week getting my application ready,” she continued. “This is one of the biggest clubs in the world and has a Women’s team which is so distinguished and I’ve looked up to these players for ages.

“It ended with me coming to Manchester for a stadium test. After that, I remember driving back to Peterborough and thinking, ‘That is my dream job; that is what I want to do.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s a weird feeling because you’re like, ‘I have to get this job now, or I have to find a way in. ‘I was just really lucky that two or three weeks later I got the phone call to say I’d got the job. It really was the best feeling.”

The ‘real’ deal to start with

Ellen, who has previously worked as a stadium announcer for England Athletics and for the BBC, started her new role at City with a huge Champions League tie against Real Madrid last month.

Ellen Ellard chats to Man City fans  Credit: Manchester CityEllen Ellard chats to Man City fans  Credit: Manchester City
Ellen Ellard chats to Man City fans Credit: Manchester City

Although it was a disappointing result for the WSL side on the night, it’s an experience Ellen will never forget.

“It was amazing,” she told us. “Before a matchday we have a brilliant playlist that is full of so many bangers. I’d been dancing around for like an hour to get that nervous energy out there, but as soon as I picked up the mic you go into that focus mode where it’s get the job done and do it to the best of your ability.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It was incredible and it was so good to announce the starting line-up, to see the fans’ flags waving. The fans, who we haven’t had in the stadium for so long, since February 2020. To have them back there [was great].

Unfortunately, Real Madrid eliminated City from the Champions League. Credit: Getty.Unfortunately, Real Madrid eliminated City from the Champions League. Credit: Getty.
Unfortunately, Real Madrid eliminated City from the Champions League. Credit: Getty.

“To see them waving their flags, hearing the cheer when you announce the names, when you’re shouting Steph Houghton’s name and the crowd go wild. It is the best feeling.

“Obviously, it’s a bit of a shame about the result, but there are plenty of games left in the season, there’s plenty of opportunity to push on and announce loads more City goals.”

The importance of female role models

It’s a momentous season for women’s football and the WSL, with a new landmark television deal announced earlier this year that sees the top flight covered by BBC Sport & Sky Sports.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

While Ellen is thrilled at the increased coverage for the women’s game, she also wants to see more off-the-field roles created for females in the world of football.

“It [football] was very male dominated on the pitch. We’re starting to see that balance become readdressed, with things like the WSL TV deal, which is incredible and is really putting women’s football out there.

Ellen Ellard  Credit: Manchester CityEllen Ellard  Credit: Manchester City
Ellen Ellard Credit: Manchester City

“But it’s also making sure the roles behind the scenes are balanced as well. I’m very lucky that I’ve had a couple of really strong female stadium announcers to look up to and to know it’s a role I want to follow. But it’s about making sure young girls have that coming through because getting into the industry [it’s tough].

“There are lots of initiatives pushing women to get on the pitch and getting into sport, but also [we need the same for] getting into the journalism side of it, the stadium announcer, getting into working in the tech side, the graphics. Everything that goes into a matchday is equally important to have women coming through there as well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s important to have those voices out there because I’m sure there are plenty of women who go to football and just aren’t used to hearing a women on the PA announcer. And when they hear that, they’ll think this is maybe a role they can go into or they just haven’t considered that type of thing before.”

Related topics: