:Jacqui Oatley

Oatley was born in Wolverhampton{{Cite web|url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/results?firstname=jacqueline&firstname_variants=true&lastname=oatley&sourcecategory=life%20events%20(bmds)&sourcecountry=great%20britain&collection=civil%20births|title=Search Results for Civil Births in Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records |work=Findmypast|language=en|access-date=31 October 2018}} on 28 December 1974. She was brought up in Codsall, South Staffordshire. Her late father Gerald was the managing director of a large gas appliance company, and her mother Sonja is a retired nurse who was born and brought up in South Africa, where her parents were Norwegian missionaries.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23393422-details/Match+of+the+Day+gets+first+female+presenter/article.do|title=Match of the Day gets first female presenter|work=This is London|date=21 April 2007|accessdate=8 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010035700/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23393422-details/Match+of+the+Day+gets+first+female+presenter/article.do|archive-date=10 October 2007|url-status=dead}}

In her childhood, Oatley developed a love of watching and playing football. She attended the all-girls junior school, St Dominic's in Brewood, Staffordshire. Oatley passed her A-Levels at Wolverhampton Grammar School, and studied at University of Leeds, graduating with a degree in German in 1996.{{cite press release |url=https://forstaff.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/5018/new_years_honours_announced |title=New Year's Honours announced |date=8 January 2016 |access-date=13 June 2023 |publisher=University of Leeds}}

Oatley spent a year travelling the world,{{cite news |url=https://journalismhallam.com/2021/11/18/sports-commentator-jacqui-oatley-celebrates-honorary-doctorate-from-sheffield-hallam-university-with-inspiring-talk-to-students/ |title=Sports commentator Jacqui Oatley celebrates honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University with inspiring talk to students |date=18 November 2021 |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=The Loop}} and then moved to London to work in intellectual property as a sales and marketing manager, then key account manager. While playing amateur football for Chiswick Ladies Football Club, Oatley sustained a dislocated knee cap and ruptured ligaments, which resulted in a reconstruction operation and ten months recovering on crutches. With further operations to follow, she was told she would no longer be able to play sport. That news prompted her decision to change career and train to become a journalist, with the aim of working in sport, particularly football.{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/match-of-the-day-gets-first-female-presenter-7207557.html |title=Match of the Day gets first female presenter |date=21 April 2007 |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=Evening Standard}}

Oatley initially studied print journalism and radio production at evening classes while broadcasting on hospital radio. She then gave up her intellectual property management job as well as her flat, spent a summer sleeping on friends' floors whilst doing journalism work experience full-time. She undertook a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Broadcast Journalism at Sheffield Hallam University.{{cite web|url=http://arum.lits.shu.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=309&srcid=202|title=Notable alumni|publisher=Sheffield Hallam University|accessdate=8 June 2008}} While studying she joined BBC Radio Leeds as a sports reporter, continuing to work there after graduation. Her first commentary was on a match between Wakefield & Emley and Worksop Town in the Unibond League.{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/the-face-dxxwzw7hk7d |title=The face |date=20 April 2007 |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=The Times |first=Carol |last=Midgely}}

Oatley also worked as a news reporter in her native West Midlands with BBC Radio WM, before moving back to London to work as a sports reporter for BBC London 94.9.

She joined BBC Radio 5 Live in 2003 and became the first woman to commentate on a football match on British network radio in 2005, covering the England women's internationals at the 2005 UEFA Women's Championship.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/how-to-get-a-job-in-sports |title=How I got my job... as a sports journalist ⚽️🏅 |date=15 May 2017 |access-date=13 June 2023 |magazine=Glamour UK |first=Lisa |last=Harvey}} Her subsequent interview with UEFA President Lennart Johansson became an international news story due to his controversial comments on women's football.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/4102440.stm |work=BBC News |title=Backlash over Johansson's remarks |date=17 June 2005 |access-date=5 May 2010}}

Oatley became the first female football commentator in the history of BBC football programme Match of the Day, with her debut broadcast on 21 April 2007 for the Premier League match between Fulham and Blackburn Rovers.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/apr/19/football.media |work=The Guardian |first=Paula |last=Cocozza |date=19 April 2007 |accessdate=13 June 2023 |title=Move over Motty!}} She has since commentated on several further games for Match of the Day.

In September 2009, she commentated on the UEFA Women's Euro 2009 final between Germany and England.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} She provided live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live for matches of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.{{cite press release |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/fox/jacqui-oatley-joins-the-fox-sports-play-by-play-roster-for-the-2022-world-cup.html |title=Jacqui Oatley joins the Fox Sports play-by-play roster for the 2022 World Cup |date=29 June 2022 |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=Awful Announcing |first=Jay |last=Rigdon |publisher=Fox Sports}} She was one of BBC Television's reporters with the Great Britain women's Olympic football team for the 2012 Summer Olympics.{{cite press release |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/bbc2012/gamestime/team_GB_football_warm_up/ |title=Team GB London 2012 football warm-up matches live on BBC One |date=20 July 2012 |access-date=13 June 2023 |publisher=BBC}}

Oatley resumed her association football play-by-play commentary career in 2019 when she commentated seven 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup matches for the Host Broadcast Services (HBS) "world feed" on-site from Roazhon Park in Rennes, France.{{cite web | url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/france2019/news/commentator-oatley-comes-full-circle-in-france | title=Commentator Oatley comes full circle in France }}

Oatley became the lead play-by-play commentator for FA Women's Super League (WSL) matches on Sky Sports in the UK in September 2021.{{cite web | url=https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/jacqui-oatley-announced-as-commentator-for-sky-sports-barclays-fa-wsl-coverage | title=Jacqui Oatley announced as commentator for Sky Sports' Barclays FA WSL coverage }} She stepped down from that role at the end of the 2022-2023 WSL season in May 2023 after she was hired by CBS Sports (USA) as the lead television main commentator (play-by-play) for the NWSL in March 2023.

In 2022, Fox Sports hired Oatley as a main play-by-play commentator for United States broadcasts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first woman to serve in that role for the tournament's U.S. broadcast.{{cite web | url=https://www.foxsports.com/presspass/blog/2022/06/29/fox-sports-welcomes-jacqui-oatley-as-new-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-play-by-play-announcer/ | title=FOX Sports Welcomes Jacqui Oatley as New FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Play-By-Play Announcer | date=29 June 2022 }}{{cite news |url=https://fortune.com/2022/11/18/world-cup-2022-jacqui-oatley-pien-meulensteen-lead-new-wave-of-women-play-by-play-commentary/ |title=The World Cup will sound different this year as a wave of women lead play-by-play commentary at Qatar's controversial soccer showpiece |date=18 November 2022 |access-date=13 June 2023 |first=Ronald |last=Blum |agency=Associated Press}}

In March 2023, Oatley joined the play-by-play commentary team for the National Women's Soccer League on television in the United States,{{cite press release |url=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/nwsl-announces-on-air-talent-lineup-for-2023-season |title=NWSL Announces On-Air Talent Lineup For 2023 Season |date=17 March 2023 |access-date=13 June 2023 |publisher=National Women's Soccer League}} commuting for the role from Surrey.{{cite news |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2023/03/29/hard-work-pays-off-for-jacqui-as-new-adventure-begins/ |title=Hard work pays off for Jacqui Oatley as new adventure begins |date=31 March 2023 |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=Express & Star |first=James |last=Vukmirovic}}

In May 2024, Fox Sports hired Oatley as one of four lead commentators for the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament.{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Callum |title=FOX Sports announces commentary team for Euro 2024, Copa America |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5530251/2024/05/30/fox-sports-euro-2024/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Oatley has presented sports news on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4, as well as more frequently on BBC Radio 5 Live. She has covered the World Snooker Championship, British Moto GP, Open Championship golf, and various other sports such as tennis and rugby league.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Oatley presented and commentated for the children's television show Level Up during the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany{{cite web |url=http://womenomics.co.uk/pop-up-pages/jacqui-oatley.html |title=Jacqui Oatley |publisher=BNY Mellon |access-date=13 June 2023}} and reported for BBC Television at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China.{{cite press release |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/08_august/22/worldcup.shtml |title=BBC to follow England in Fifa Women's World Cup China 2007 – live coverage on BBC Two |date=22 August 2007 |access-date=13 June 2023 |publisher=BBC}} She commentated on live football matches for BBC Television during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/aug/10/olympics.daytwo.minutebyminute |title=The Beijing Olympics - day two as it happened |date=9 August 2008 |access-date=13 June 2023 |first1=Taimour |last1=Lay |first2=Alan |last2=Gardner}}

She was a regular sports presenter on the BBC News Channel between 2011 and 2013,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/oct/09/jacqui-oatley-footbal-presenter-bbc-itv-womens-sports-media-interview |title=Jacqui Oatley: 'We need to give young girls the confidence to do this' |date=9 October 2016 |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=The Guardian |first=Jane |last=Martinson}} fronted The FA WSL Show in 2012 for ESPN (UK),{{cite press release |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/32050272 |title=Women's Super League on the BBC |date=25 March 2015 |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=BBC Sport}} and anchored the BBC's live women's football coverage, including the UEFA Women's Euro 2013, 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, and Women's Football Show on BBC in 2015. In 2013 and 2014 Oatley also hosted Late Kick Off on BBC One in London and the South East,{{cite press release |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/euros/ |title=Women's Euros 2013 |work=BBC Media Centre |date=1 July 2013}} and was a reporter on Football Focus and Final Score on BBC One and a Premier League presenter on their worldwide television channel, produced by IMG.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

She has also fronted The Football League Show, completing the set of five broadcast roles on the show, and World Football Focus. She has been the darts anchor for ITV Sport since 2015, hosting their live international PDC events. She had previously presented ITV's 2015 Africa Cup of Nations coverage and in 2014 anchored their FA Cup highlights programmes.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} She has been a studio guest pundit on TV2 in Norway and The Guardian's Football Weekly podcast.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Oatley hosted coverage of matches and highlights for UEFA Euro 2016{{cite news |url=https://sport-onthebox.com/2016/05/24/itv-reveals-euro-2016-coverage-plans/ |title=ITV reveals Euro 2016 coverage plans |date=24 May 2016 |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=Sport on the Box}} and the 2018 FIFA World Cup for ITV Sport as a main studio presenter and pitchside reporter,{{cite news |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/football/world-cup-2018-live-on-itv-meet-the-presenters-and-pundits/ |title=World Cup 2018 live on ITV: meet the presenters and pundits |date=17 June 2018 |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=Radio Times}} and was a live match commentator for the host broadcaster's world TV feed on-site at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

Oatley appeared regularly on Sky Sports programming as a match reporter on Soccer Saturday and has stand-in presented Goals on Sunday{{cite tweet |title=Cracking debut on Goals on Sunday for @JacquiOatley our guest @DarrenBent wasn't half bad either pic.twitter.com/1OyaVgscy5 |user=chris_kammy |author=Chris Kamara |author-link=Chris Kamara |number=1206208700576337920 |accessdate=22 December 2019 |language=en |date=15 December 2019}} and Sunday Supplement, where she took over from Neil Ashton on 14 January 2020 until the show was cancelled following the COVID-19 lockdown.{{cite tweet |title=WELCOME JACQUI! It's a done deal! We're delighted to announce @JacquiOatley is the new host of @SundaySupp!Join Jacqui from 10am, Sunday on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Football for analysis of the big stories making the back pages. |user=SundaySupp |number=1217107647171874816 |accessdate=14 January 2020 |language=en |date=14 January 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sky-sports-sunday-supplement-jacqui-oatley-presenter-news-latest-a9284486.html |title=No, the world isn't ending, it's just a woman hosting Sunday Supplement |date=15 January 2020 |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=The Independent |first=Melissa |last=Reddy}}

In the summer of 2021, she co-hosted the BBC Radio 5 Live 5 Live Drive news show with Tony Livesey.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and diversity in sport.{{London Gazette|issue=61450|supp=y|page=N22|date=30 December 2015}} The award was recognition of her work behind the scenes championing the role of women working in football as well as women's football. In September 2016, Oatley was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters at the University of Wolverhampton for her contribution to sports broadcasting.{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/education/2016/09/24/sports-presenter-jacqui-oatley-nets-an-honorary-degree-from-the-university-of-wolverhampton/|title=WATCH: Sports presenter Jacqui Oatley nets an honorary degree from the University of Wolverhampton|work=Express & Star |date=24 September 2016}}

Oatley is married to Jamie.{{cite web | url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2023/03/29/hard-work-pays-off-for-jacqui-as-new-adventure-begins/ | title=Hard work pays off for Jacqui Oatley as new adventure begins | date=April 2023 }} They live in Surrey. She gave birth to daughter Phoebe in 2011 and son Max in 2014.{{cite web | url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/jacqui-oatley-sports-presenter-shocked-10671446 | title=Presenter dedicates the honour to Women in Football | date=31 December 2015 |work=SurreyLive |first=Tom |last=Smurthwaite}} Her cousin in South Africa was a Springboks cricket selector, while his brother was a rally driver who twice won the Roof of Africa.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/euro2008/2008/03/about_jacqui_oatley|title=Euro 2008 – About Jacqui Oatley|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=8 June 2008}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|7079443}}
• [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/oct/24/jacqui-oatley-football-commentator Guardian Life and Style Jacqui Oatley]
• [https://archive.today/20130704170049/http://www.streetgames.org/www/content/my-sporting-life-jacqui-oatley Streetgames My Sporting Life Jacqui Oatley]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130618005856/http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2013/05/23/interview-jacqui-oatley-the-savior-of-women-s-football Politics.co.uk Jacqui Oatley]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oatley, Jacqui}}

Category:Living people

Category:People from Wolverhampton

Category:People from Codsall

Category:English people of South African descent

Category:People educated at St Dominic's Grammar School

Category:People educated at Wolverhampton Grammar School

Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds

Category:Alumni of Sheffield Hallam University

Category:English journalists

Category:English radio personalities

Category:BBC Radio 5 Live presenters

Category:English association football commentators

Category:Mass media people from Staffordshire

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:English people of Norwegian descent

Category:Women association football commentators

Category:National Women's Soccer League commentators

Category:1975 births