January 15th 2024.
Julie Anne Quay, a director at Barnsley FC, believes that there are three universal languages that connect people all over the world – fashion, music, and football. As someone who has worked in the fashion industry for many years, Julie Anne knows that these languages transcend borders and bring people together, even in unexpected places like a small town in South Yorkshire.
When Julie Anne travels from her lavish home in New York to visit Yorkshire, she is not afraid to leave behind her glamorous lifestyle and embrace the simple pleasures of life. Instead of staying in a luxurious hotel, she chooses to stay at a Premier Inn and indulge in some traditional British cuisine like mushy peas and Yorkshire puddings. For Julie Anne, this is what makes her trips to Yorkshire special and she wouldn't have it any other way.
As a former executive editor of V Magazine and founder of VFILES, Julie Anne has had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in the fashion industry and has even managed the studio of the legendary photographer Steven Meisel. However, despite her successful career in the fashion world, it is her role as a director at Barnsley FC that has captured her heart.
Being a director at a football club may seem out of place for someone who has worked in the high-end fashion industry, but for Julie Anne, it feels like home. She loves the history and culture of the town and has even developed a fondness for the local cuisine. She also has a special shout-out to the Premier Inn just outside Barnsley, which she believes has the best beds and sheets of any hotel she's ever stayed in.
Some may draw comparisons between Julie Anne's story and that of the popular TV show "Ted Lasso," where an American football coach takes on a Premier League team in the UK. However, Julie Anne is quick to laugh off these comparisons, knowing that her journey with Barnsley FC is unique and her own.
Julie Anne's involvement with Barnsley FC began in 2017 when she and her husband became investors in the club. As avid fans of football, they couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a part of the club. Even though they live in New York, they make sure to watch every game and support the team, no matter the time difference.
In 2022, Julie Anne became a director at Barnsley FC after a shake-up of the investors board. However, her first year in this role didn't go as smoothly as she had hoped. The team faced a devastating loss to their rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium. It was a tough defeat to swallow, and Julie Anne admits that it took her months to get over it.
As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Julie Anne has faced her fair share of challenges, including casual sexism. But she is not afraid to speak up and make her opinions known, as she did when she heard fans making inappropriate comments towards a female staff member from a rival team. Julie Anne hopes to inspire other women to follow in her footsteps and show that they too can thrive in the world of football.
Despite the challenges she has faced, Julie Anne remains passionate and dedicated to her role at Barnsley FC. She believes in the power of football to bring people together and is always working to improve and make the game more inclusive. And as she continues to make a mark in the football world, she hopes to inspire others to do the same.
Julie Anne Quay, a director at Barnsley FC, believes that there are three global languages that connect us all: fashion, music, and football. She has a deep understanding and appreciation for these languages, having spent most of her life in the fashion industry in New York. However, when she visits Yorkshire, she leaves behind the glitz and glamour of high fashion to immerse herself in the world of football and the local culture. And she wouldn't have it any other way.
Born in Australia, Julie Anne is no stranger to small towns. In fact, her love for Barnsley, a town of 96,000 people, is a testament to her down-to-earth nature. As a director at Barnsley FC, she feels right at home in the close-knit community. She often hears people say that Barnsley must feel small to her compared to New York, but she disagrees. Her husband is from a tiny town much smaller than Barnsley, so she feels right at home. She loves the history, culture, and food of the town, especially Yorkshire Puddings and mushy peas. And she has a soft spot for the Premier Inn hotel just outside of Barnsley, praising its comfortable beds and sheets.
Some may draw comparisons between Julie Anne's story and the popular TV show, Ted Lasso, about an American football coach who moves to the UK to manage a struggling Premier League team. However, Julie Anne quickly dismisses this comparison, rightfully so. Her journey with Barnsley FC began in 2017 when she and her husband became investors in the club. As huge fans of football, they jumped at the opportunity. Even living in New York, they watched every game, no matter the time difference. In 2022, Julie Anne became a director after a shake-up of the investors' board.
Her first year as a director got off to a rocky start when Barnsley faced a heartbreaking defeat to rivals Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley Stadium in May 2023. After playing with ten men for most of the game, Barnsley conceded a goal in the last seconds of extra time, losing the match. Julie Anne vividly recalls the feeling of defeat and disappointment, wondering what the football gods were trying to tell her. It took her months to get over the loss, and she rejects the common saying, "that's football, we go again." For her, that phrase doesn't reflect the game's true nature.
Julie Anne is not one to shy away from expressing her opinions, even in a male-dominated industry like football. She has previously spoken out against casual sexism, such as fans chanting derogatory remarks towards a female staff member on a rival team. And while she has encountered some casual sexism during her time at Barnsley, she is quick to point out that there are no issues at the club currently. She hopes to inspire other women to follow in her footsteps and become leaders in the football industry.
As an underdog, Julie Anne has always had a determined and curious mindset. She moved to New York in the 1990s with only two suitcases while pregnant, and now she is a woman in a leadership position at a football club. She brings her energy and passion to everything she does, constantly striving for improvement and inclusivity in the game. She acknowledges that there are still some middle tiers where women are referred to as "darling," but she chooses to focus on the positive and encourages people to bring their daughters to games, showing them that football is for everyone.
Julie Anne's love for Barnsley FC goes beyond the sport itself. She has fallen in love with the town, the people, and the community. She is proud to be a part of the club and is excited to see its growth and success in the future. And she hopes to continue being a role model for women in football and inspire others to follow their passions, no matter where it may lead them.
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