Despite a late career change, Jacqui Oatley has become one of Britain’s best known sports broadcaster, presenter and commentator. Working regularly with BBC Sport and ITV Sport, she became the first female commentator on Match of the Day, while also covering football around the world for ITV in between being an FA qualified coach, director of Women in Football and a mother of two. As part of Inspiring Women in Sport Week, I spoke to Jacqui about her career, the importance of opportunity for women in sports, and her aims for the future.

Having fronted ITV’s highlights of the 2014 FA Cup, she has also hosted The Football League Show and the Women’s Football Show in recent years. However, Oatley dived to new depths last month and travelled to Equatorial Guinea for the 30th edition of a continental competition.

You recently featured as a presenter for ITV’s coverage of the 2015 African Cup of Nations. What was it like to be handed the opportunity for such a prestigious tournament?

“Brilliant! It was really fantastic, Matt Smith was the main presenter and I filled in for him in four shows. It was great - a very different tournament and something I hadn’t done before as I’m used to doing British and international football.

“But specifically African football was great, bearing in mind I have South African family. It’s a shame they didn’t do very well, but it was also a very different type of presenting to what I’m used to on the BBC. You had to show the first half highlights of every game, and most of the first halves were absolutely dreadful.

“They had to squeeze all the good bits after the break into the second part, and then the analysis. It was certainly different, but it was fantastic. I really enjoyed meeting the different pundits, with the likes of Quinton Fortune [former Manchester United midfielder] and Peter Odemwingie [current Stoke City forward].”

Born in Wolverhampton, it was a sporting injury that led to a change in career for the former amateur footballer. A dislocated knee cap and ruptured ligaments during an outing for Chiswick Ladies Football Club saw a reconstruction operation and ten months recovery on crutches. After being told her playing prospects were over, a degree in German handed her a role as Sales and Marketing Manager, followed by Key Account Manager in London.

However, evening classes in print journalism and radio production saw Oatley give up her job and flat for an unpaid role on hospital radio and many nights on friends’ floors. Later undertaking a Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism at Sheffield Hallam University, Oatley gained the success she worked tirelessly for, courtesy of Match of the Day.

Many remember you for becoming the first female commentator on Match of the Day in 2007. How do you feel your introduction helped other females within journalism and media in the sport?

“While I can’t give a certain answer to that, I can only hope that it hasn’t put too many women off! In fact, I hope that if there are women, or girls in particular, who are embarking on a career in journalism and are passionate about sport, that they consider commentary.

“If they are working their way up through hospital radio, local radio – as I did – and if they really want to, which is essential, then the opportunities will be there for them and I hope they feel it isn’t a closed shop any more. That’s the most important thing, as when I was growing up, it wasn’t that simple for women.

“We have to hope for more openings for girls and women now, and they are aware that there is a place for them. If they put in the effort and our up for the job, they can progress in the career they want to.”

However, her expertise didn’t stop at journalism. Oatley has held a number of roles to help progress and develop the possibilities in sport for women, after commentating at the Women’s World Cup in 2007 and the Women’s European Championships in 2009 and 2013.

Later becoming the BBC Television reporter with the Great Britain women's Olympic football team for the 2012 Summer Olympics, she has had one of the biggest impacts in journalism for women’s football – an area of the sport finally gaining recognition. Following outcry for the BBC not showing England Women’s first fixture of 2015 against the United States on television, it seems credit is finally being awarded.

Outside of journalism, you hold an FA qualification in coaching, while being a director of Women In Football. What are your aims for the developments of opportunities for women in football?

“Although I don’t have the stats, there are a lot more female coaches now and there’s no reason why anybody can’t do the Level 1 or Level 2 courses. They have the opportunity to go as far as they want to, and I think again it comes down to perception of opportunity.

“Often women don’t realise the opportunities are there, and they need to see the women doing the jobs to aspire. As I’m on the board of the Women in Football, we try to encourage women to work in football, and if that’s what they want to do, let them know of the opportunities and possibilities out there.”

While she has covered the World Snooker Championship, British Moto GP and Open Championship golf, as well as a number of other sports including tennis and rugby league, it seems Oatley’s heart was set on football, having developed her passion for the sport at a young age. Nevertheless, there wasn’t an individual who inspired her to achieve the accomplishments she has been rewarded with today, and simply enjoyed the prospect of presenting and commentating on football matches across the country.

What was your inspiration for a career in journalism, and what were the prospects like for female sports journalists at the time? How much have they improved since?

“My inspiration was simply the fact that I wanted to do it! I was initially within a job I didn’t want to do, but there was no one person who inspired me. I just saw other people doing that job, and the fact I really wasn’t interested in my job, I felt life was too short. I questioned what I had to do to get to what they’re doing, so it was all about research.

“The more I researched, the further I got, and the more I realised what I had to do to get there. So I worked and worked to get where I wanted to be. My motto in life is ‘it’s better to be at the bottom of the ladder you want to be on, rather than half way up one you don’t,’ so I jumped off the ladder halfway and got right to the bottom of what I finally wanted to do.”

Commentaries earlier in her career saw Oatley work for BBC Radio Leeds as a sports reporter, and it was there she commentated on her first match. With Wakefield & Emley entertaining Worksop Town in the Unibond League, she soon progressed with BBC West Midlands and BBC London. Joining BBC Radio Five Live in 2003, she also became the first woman to commentate on a football match on British network radio two years later. Covering the England women’s internationals at the 2005 UEFA Women’s Championships, a wealth of experience has led to one particular memorable event.

Having covered a number of sporting events, what have been your proudest and most memorable achievements to date?

“The men’s World Cup of 2010 in South Africa. Commentating in Cape Town with Graham Taylor [former England and Wolverhampton manager] was a really proud day. Without a doubt the most memorable.”

However, she is yet to be contented with her experience, and wishes to continue covering football matches, and other sports she is yet to cover in a career spanning across two decades.

Do you still have any goals within sports journalism you wish to accomplish as a freelancer?

“Good question! Loads, there really are loads of things I’d wish to achieve still. I just want to keep going to football matches and keep presenting football matches, maybe even the Olympics as well as football. I’ve done Olympic football, but maybe presenting elsewhere would be nice. There is nothing specific I am targeting, but I’m simply enjoying what I’m doing.”

Following her wealth of experience, Oatley gave her best piece of advice for any journalists. Having worked her way to the top the hard way, she was in a great position to ensure anyone can reach their goals within journalism as long as they are happy to work for it.

What do you believe is the best piece of advice you would give to any or training journalists?

“First of all, research. Work out exactly what you need to do to get to your goals, and once you’ve decided you are prepared to do it, don’t let anyone or anything stop you. That means working extremely hard, but if you’re prepared to do it you will get there, there is no doubt about it as long as you work.”

Oatley now works as a freelance commentator and broadcaster, while also working as an event host and speaker. She is working closely with a number of leading individuals as part of Inspiring Women in Sport Week.

A big thank you to Jacqui for allowing us the time to conduct the interview with no prior warning! You can follow her on Twitter @JacquiOatley.