Jacqui Oatley facts for kids

Jacqui Oatley is a famous English sports broadcaster. She was born on December 28, 1974. Jacqui is well-known for her work as a football commentator. She has covered major events like the FIFA World Cup and the Premier League.

Jacqui also works as a sports presenter. She has hosted shows for ITV Sport and was a podcast host for The Athletic. In 2007, she made history. She became the first female commentator on the BBC's main football show, Match of the Day. In 2015, The Independent newspaper named her one of the most influential women in sport.

Early Life and Education

Jacqui Oatley grew up in Codsall, England. Her dad managed a gas appliance company. Her mom was a nurse from South Africa.

School Days

From a young age, Jacqui loved football. She enjoyed both watching and playing the sport. She went to St Dominic's Grammar School and Wolverhampton Grammar School. Later, she studied German at the University of Leeds. She graduated in 1996.

After university, Jacqui traveled the world. Then she worked in London, managing sales for a company. She played amateur football in her free time. A serious knee injury changed her path. Doctors told her she might not play sports again. This news inspired her to become a journalist. She wanted to work in sports, especially football.

Becoming a Journalist

Jacqui started her journalism journey by taking evening classes. She learned about print and radio. She even worked at a hospital radio station. To focus on her new career, she left her old job. She spent a summer doing full-time journalism work experience.

She earned a special diploma in Broadcast Journalism. This was at Sheffield Hallam University. While studying, she joined BBC Radio Leeds. She worked there as a sports reporter. Her very first football commentary was for a local match.

Jacqui also reported news for BBC WM in her home area. Later, she moved back to London. There, she became a sports reporter for BBC London 94.9.

Presenting and Reporting Sports

Jacqui Oatley has presented sports news on many BBC radio stations. These include BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, and BBC Radio 4. She was often heard on BBC Radio 5 Live. She has covered many different sports. These include snooker, motorcycling, golf, tennis, and rugby.

She also worked on TV shows for kids. She presented and commentated for Level Up during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. She reported for BBC Television at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup. During the 2008 Summer Olympics, she commentated on live football.

From 2011 to 2013, Jacqui was a regular sports presenter. She worked on the BBC News Channel. She also hosted women's football coverage for the BBC. This included the UEFA Women's Euro 2013 and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. She was a reporter for popular shows like Football Focus and Final Score.

Jacqui has been the main darts anchor for ITV Sport since 2015. She hosts their live international events. She also covered the Africa Cup of Nations and FA Cup highlights for ITV. She has been a studio guest on TV in Norway. She also appeared on The Guardian's Football Weekly podcast.

She hosted coverage for UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup for ITV Sport. She was a main studio presenter and reported from the pitch. For the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, she was a live match commentator.

Jacqui often appeared on Sky Sports. She reported on matches for Soccer Saturday. She also filled in as a presenter for Goals on Sunday and Sunday Supplement.

Awards and Recognition

In 2016, Jacqui Oatley received a special award. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was for her services to broadcasting. It also recognized her work in promoting diversity in sport. She has championed the role of women working in football.

In September 2016, she received another honor. The University of Wolverhampton gave her an Honorary Doctor of Letters. This was for her important contributions to sports broadcasting.

Personal Life

Jacqui Oatley is married to Jamie. They live in Surrey, England. They have two children, a daughter named Phoebe (born 2011) and a son named Max (born 2014). Her family also has a connection to sports. Her cousin in South Africa was a cricket selector. His brother was a rally driver.