Kate talks to the Birmingham Mail newspaper about being a West Bromwich Albion fan – in Moscow
SHE’S a Russian TV tsar – but presenter Kate Partridge has revealed how she flies the flag for West Bromwich Albion from distant Moscow.
The sports presenter works for the channel Russia Today, but makes sure she catches every televised game featuring her beloved Baggies.
Apart from her family, Albion are what she misses most about England since moving to Moscow 18 months ago, after being made redundant.
Kate was a reporter on Setanta Sports News when the channel closed down, leaving her out of a job. But it gave her the opportunity to follow a long-held fascination with Russia.
“Growing up in Kingswinford, I loved gymnastics and ice skating,” she says. “I was fascinated by the dedication and poise of the Russian competitors, especially girls like Olga Korbut.
“I thought Russia sounded an amazing place, so about 10 years ago I went to nightschool to learn the language and passed a GCSE in Russian. I’m not fluent but I can just about get by!
“I had friends of friends who had worked for the English-speaking Russia Today and they encouraged me to go for it when I saw the job advertised on their website.”
Sport has always been a passion for Kate, but she left King Edward VI College in Stourbridge set on an academic career.
She took a history degree at the London School of Economics and has a Masters in ancient history. She even contemplated starting a PhD on Julius Caesar before realising she could combine her interest in sport and journalism.
After getting her break on the sports desk of a national newspaper, she found more success in radio and television.
“There are still very few female sports writers, but female presenters aren’t as rare as they used to be,” says Kate, who refuses to reveal her age but is in her thirties.
“People are surprised when I turn up to a press conference in high heels and looking so blonde, but I’ve only had encouragement. I am thick-skinned though and don’t mind a bit of banter.”
What did she make of the sacking of Sky Sports pundits Andy Gray and Richard Keys for their sexist comments about a female assistant referee?
“I have met Andy and always found him very funny,” says Kate, who is single. “I think the fuss the comments caused are an indication that sport has become less of a boys’ club, but the comments didn’t bother me personally.
“I hate the idea of positive discrimination and people treating me differently because I’m a girl. I want to be respected because I’m good at what I do.”
Kate certainly knows her football, having virtually grown up at the Hawthorns.
“My whole family are mad about West Bromwich Albion,” she says. “I can’t remember the first match I saw because I was so young at the time.
“But I do have a vivid memory of feeling sad when Bryan Robson and Ron Atkinson said goodbye at the Hawthorns in 1981, when they were going to Manchester United.
“My dad is in ecstasy over the appointment of Roy Hodgson and keeps saying: ‘Look what he did at Fulham! He’ll take us to Europe!’. Ironically, it’s easier to watch Albion matches in Moscow than in England because of all the satellite feeds coming in. I go to a sports bar near me to see the games.
“There are some Baggies fans here – I’ve seen a few blue and white shirts in Moscow!
“The world of sport really is shrinking.”
Credit – Roz Laws (http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/tv-presenter-kate-partridge-supports-224579)
No comments yet.