“If it can inspire one trans person to be themselves and do something they love, I think that’s positive”: Lucy Clark on In the Middle

In the Middle is the new documentary that puts the unsung heroes of football – the referees – centre-stage. In particular, it zeroes in on the individuals working at grassroots level, without whom many leagues wouldn’t be able to function, and yet who face little to no pay and a lot of on-pitch abuse. Director and producer Greg Cruttwell broadens his view beyond the game to also see who they are in their everyday lives, interviewing them about their passion for football from their kitchens or as they go about their daily chores. The result (which won the film Best Screenplay Award at the 2022 Paladino d’Oro Sports Film Festival in Palermo) makes for a charming, candid and insightful look at a cross-section of British society.

The Upcoming spoke to one of the film’s subjects, Lucy Clark, about being the first transgender referee, why she wanted to participate in the documentary, and how inclusivity in the sport is changing – but mainly in the women’s game, whereas the men’s lags behind. We also discussed the lack of adequate action taken over the Qatar controversy, how LGBTQIA+ rights and acceptance can seem to be going backwards in the UK, and hopes that the documentary and representation can empower others to be who they are.

Sarah Bradbury

In the Middle is released in cinemas on 31^st March 2023 and digitally on demand on 1^st May 2023. Read our review here.

Watch the trailer for In the Middle here: