Separating 'journalist Liv' from 'gooner Liv'

Date: 25th October 2025 

Me and my dad at the Emirates Stadium

When asked ‘Why this project?’ The answer for me was always simple. This is my club, my family, my team. 

We are so often, as students, told to choose topics we are passionate about. 

‘Don’t do something you aren’t passionate about, you’ll be sick of it by the end.’ 

So, following that advice, I chose the topic that has been the most consistent thing in my life. The Arsenal. 

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been red and white. Although not through any choice of my own, the club I inherited from my dad has stuck with me throughout life and influenced me into my professional career. When I was 8, I went to the Emirates for the first time. A stadium tour I had bought my dad as a birthday present. I sat in the press box, had my picture taken and we moved on. At this point, unaware of what my future had in store. Thirteen years later, in a full circle moment, I sat in the exact same seat in a post-match press conference after Arsenal battered Spurs 5-0 in the women’s North London Derby, covering the match for ESPN. 

My first ever press card at Arsenal

So, with all that being said, a challenge I face in this project is separating ‘Liv the fan,’ with ‘Liv the journalist.’

Working on this documentary forces me to navigate a strange middle ground. On the one hand I am celebrating a team I have grown up loving while on the other, I am approaching the topic with the unbiased clarity of a journalist covering an international level football club. 

It is a constant balancing act of using my passion responsibly. To tackle this in the project, it will be imperative to use a voice outside of the club, to provide a coherent and practical argument. I need to make sure I am asking the right questions, talking to the right people, and portraying something deeper than the fans. Arsenal’s attendance levels in the WSL have broken records and started a movement, it is a privilege to be able to explore that and produce a journalistic, informative piece that celebrates the growth of women's sport in England. 

My goal is to make sure the documentary reflects the truth of the fan experience, not just my own version of it. If I can do that, then being both a fan and a journalist becomes an advantage rather than a conflict.

Documentary coming December 17th.