Olivia Fox
Football

Profile
Age: 21
Olivia started playing football at the age 4, when she first joined Hawkinge Youth Boys, encouraged by her Grandad, whilst in great competition with her older brother who also played. Olivia played here, but with limited opportunity and many stereotypes, so a girls’ team was formed at U10 level. From here she played with the majority of the same girls through to U16 level.
The team then moved across to Folkestone Invicta, prior to the 2015/16 season to play as an U18 squad where they won League Two and reached the KGLFL cup final where they finished runners up. In this successful season, Olivia also played for Kent Football United in the Capital League where she competed against the likes of Tottenham, Watford and Reading. Moving on from this experience at a higher, advanced level allowed her the opportunity to enter Gillingham Girls Academy in a professional environment, completing school work in the morning before moving on to training in the afternoon, 3 days a week.
In her first season at Gillingham, the team won the South East Counties Women’s Football League.
In 2018 Olivia become the first Derby County Ladies Scholar.
The scholarship offers the selected players the opportunity to have their fees paid in full for their three-year degree courses.
The Kent-based defensive midfielder is the first to take up the offer to study Football Journalism at the University, whilst representing both Derby County Ladies and the university football team and she believes that the prospect of a dual career is something that all women footballers should consider.
Fox said: “I’m a big advocate for this route for women’s football players. It’s a fantastic opportunity to join a club like Derby County Ladies and a big step forward personally to study academically.