Sutton United’s new women’s team manager, Lucy Clark, has made history after becoming the first transgender manager appointed to a football club in the top five tiers of the women’s game in England.

Clark was the first transgender referee in football, running matches in the third tier of the women’s game.

A lifelong Sutton fan, the 51-year-old now faces the challenge of guiding the team out of relegation trouble in the London and South Regional Women’s Premier Division.

In her first interview after the appointment, posted on X on Sunday, she revealed her love for the club extended to managing Sutton United on computer games.

“To actually actively be involved in this role is just amazing. So I’m living the dream, loving it,” she said.

When the club announced the appointment on X last week, they said it was “great to have a lifelong U’s fan on board”.

Clark, who coached her first team at the age of 16, has coached non-league men’s teams in Essex, and has a UEFA B coaching licence, the BBC said.

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When the appointment was confirmed last week, Clark said on X: “Proud and honoured to be given the opportunity to manage such a fantastic club. Hard work starts now.”

But there was no honeymoon start for Clark as Sutton lost her first game in charge – a 3-1 defeat to leaders Fulham on Sunday.

United are ninth in the 12-team league table, six points above the relegation zone.

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