Skip to content

Oxford FA female referee explains importance of representation

An all-female team of officials taking charge of a World Cup game was a source of inspiration for one teen referee in Oxfordshire.

Isla, 14, is a referee for Oxford FA and said seeing women on the pitch "spurred her on".

The teen from Headington says she's faced challenges getting into the sport, but she's determined to "keep walking through their wall".

Video by Lewis Coombes

Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].

10 December 2022

Explore More

Maggie Smith staring off camera towards an interviewer in a black and white interview with the BBC

Watch: Maggie Smith's 1967 interview about her early career

BBC reporter Clodagh Stenson stands on the bank of the Oxford Canal. She is wearing a black shirt and black trousers, with sunglasses propped on the top of her head. She is standing on a grass bank with a bridge over the canal in the background. Directly behind her is a navy blue narrow boat with a yellow window

Affordable housing and GPs issues for canal voters

BBC Reporter Clodagh Stenson sits on the roof of a narrowboat on the Oxford Canal. She is wearing black trousers and a black shirt with sunglasses on top of her head. She has short red hair. There is a second blue narrowboat in the water alongside. One bank has green trees overhanging the water. The other bank has a gravel yard with a blue car parked next to a two-storey industrial building.

Voters talk NHS and pensions as they clear canal

BBC reporter Clodagh Stenson sits on the roof of her narrowboat on the Oxford canal with a grass verge next to the tow path

Boating voters talk farming on canal tour

Picture of Oxford United head coach as a baby

Oxford United coach releases baby picture after win

Oxford United players

Footballers fitted for play-off final Wembley suits

Gaza Oxford protester

Gaza protest university students deliver demands

Giraffe

Jet with 500 toy giraffe passengers takes flight

Bird

Bird mimicking police siren confuses officers

Ancient roman villa ruins

See 'remarkable' concealed Roman villa unearthed

Inspection

Video shows snagging inspectors at a new-build home

Scarlet Blake and victim Jorge Martin Carreño

Watch: CCTV shows murderer lead victim to his death

Scarlett Blake on CCTV in Oxford

CCTV shows murderer looking for potential victim

Scarlett Blake against a brick wall

Murderer told police 'at least it's not genocide'

Anjana Gadgil in studio surrounded by dinosaurs

Watch: Dinosaurs invade BBC South studio

Shark house

Watch: Inside the Headington Shark house

Keyframe #1

Bridge replacement works flooded

Flooded Oxford

Aerial footage shows flooding across Oxford

Julia attending Polish school in Tunbridge Wells

Calls for more funding for language schools

BBC Young Reporter 2023 North East Winner, 17-year-old Anna

Young Reporter winner shares her experience of ADHD

BBC Reporter Clodagh Stenson standing next to a canal boat with sunglasses on her head. Dressed in a black shirt and trousers on a grass bank

BBC reporter meets voters in her narrowboat

Clodagh Stenson is cruising along the Oxford Canal speaking to voters about the issues they want addressed.

Georgettes of Oxford at Claydon House

Video of Regency dance enthusiasts at stately home

Georgettes of Oxford bring the Bridgerton vibe to dances, parlour games, and academic talks.

Car being drive wrong way around roundabout

Banned driver jailed after dangerous police chase

Adam Marmont was jailed for two years after trying to evade police during a dangerous pursuit.

Dr Emily Connally is the founder of the Cherwell Collective

Watch: Top five tips on how to eat like a climatarian

The Climatarian Kitchen is encouraging people to eat green by adopting low-carbon meals.

Car undertaking police vehicle on M40

Video shows 100mph drunk-driver who had child in car

A police officer said it was "one of the worst pieces of driving I have ever seen".

Timelapse

Time-lapse shows university building taking shape

The £185m Stephen A Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities is expected to be finished in autumn 2025.

Zoe Barratt from Oxford United with girls from Summertown Stars

Football team backs bullied girls playing the game

Young girls, bullied for playing football, are invited to train with Oxford United Women.

Northern Lights in the sky over Oxfordshire

Watch: Northern lights give surprise display

The northern lights were spotted across Oxfordshire on Sunday night in a surprisingly strong display.

Paddy Haynes holding a crushed frying pan.

England's strongest man rolls up frying pan

Paddy Haynes has won many awards for his strength and hopes to win more titles this year.

Man on housing construction site.

'It's housing for people, by the people'

The project is expected to increase the number of affordable, sustainable homes in Hook Norton.

Keyframe #2

Pancake race returns after four year break

The event last took place in February 2020, weeks before the first Covid-19 lockdown.

Keyframe #5

Flooding on residential street returns

Victoria Cooper has experienced flooding 12 times in the last six months.

Henley's toad patrol are celebrating 25 years of keeping the amphibians away from danger.

Volunteers save thousands of toads from busy road

Henley Toad Patrol is celebrating 25 years of keeping the amphibians away from danger.

Kayleigh the teddy bear in a glass case

'When I have a down day the little bear comforts me'

Much-loved teddy bears with their own unique stories have gone on public display in Oxfordshire.

Flooding at Abingdon

Drone video of Thames Valley floods in 43 seconds

Aerial footage over the Thames Valley shows flooding remains, a week after heavy rain hit.

An aerial view of Henley on Thames with a flooded Thames

Drone video shows flood-closed rowing museum

Aerial footage filmed over Henley-on-Thames on Sunday evening shows the extent of the flooding.

Keyframe #4

Drone footage shows flooding along River Thames

Aerial views show impact of flooding from the River Thames across Oxfordshire.

Lights at Blenheim Palace

World Heritage Site lights up for Christmas

More than a million lights are used to illuminate the gardens around Blenheim Palace for Christmas.

Two rhinos and a Christmas pudding ball

Watch: Rhinos 'scared' by Christmas pudding present

A giant, decorated enrichment ball left rhinos at the Cotswold Wildlife Park unimpressed.

Sam Ryder in Oxford

Sam Ryder plays live at Westgate Oxford

The Eurovision star's festive song You're Christmas To Me is up against Wham's Last Christmas.