A trans woman has opened up about her own struggles and experiences in sport after taking part in a trail-blazing LGBTQ+ football match.

Transgender footballer Lucy Gladding, from Gravesend, played the beautiful game all throughout her childhood but always shied away from joining a team.

Lucy Gladding took part in a trail-blazing LGBTQ+ football match between TRUK United FC and Dulwich Hamlets Ladies

The 31-year-old came out as transgender in 2018 and despite her love of football "didn't feel right or comfortable" participating in men's teams.

But after a chance encounter last year Lucy stumbled upon Gravesham Ladies FC who welcomed her into their side with open arms.

Lucy took another giant stride in her sporting journey as a transgender woman last week after taking part in a landmark football friendly between TRUK United FC and Dulwich Hamlet Ladies.

The grassroots game, which took place on Transgender Day of Visibility at Champion Hill, was notable as TRUK United FC – an LGBTQ+ friendly football team – fielded an X1 consisting entirely of transgender women.

And despite a 7-0 loss it was hailed a major success by lifelong Arsenal fan Lucy who believes the message mattered more than the result.

She said: "It was an amazing experience for me and my team mates, some of which may have probably never played football in a team before just through being transgender and thinking sport is not for us."

"It is very big for a team full of cis females such as Dulwich Hamlets to allow us to be a part of this amazing experience which is hopefully the first of many."

Cis is a descriptive term to indicate people whose gender identity corresponds with the gender and sex they were assigned at birth.

But whilst the non-league football match took place in front of hundreds of supportive LGBTQ+ fans and allies, a heated debate brews naturally over the inclusion of transgender women in women's sport.

Earlier this week a landmark LGBT summit was scrapped after uproar over changes to the proposed conversion therapy ban – which excluded transgender people.

After being quizzed on the topic Prime Minister Boris Johnson added that biological males "should not compete in female sporting events".

"I sort of shied away because I essentially didn't want to be part of a boy's team and knowing my identity underneath I didn't want to be part of that."

It's a view not shared by members of TRUK Utd like Lucy who believe such "blanket" statements detract from more meaningful and open dialogue.

Rather than rebut the remarks, Lucy, who is due to start her medical transition after delays due to the pandemic, was keen to share her own sporting experiences and send a message to transgender women that team sport is for them.

The footballer said: "I got into football when I was very very young. It was my outlet growing up and I played football all throughout my childhood but I never played for any teams.

"I sort of shied away because I essentially didn't want to be part of a boy's team and knowing my identity underneath I didn't want to be part of that.

"It's not anything against the boys at all; I just didn't feel right or comfortable."

But since joining her local woman's side, Gravesham Ladies FC, she says she has felt accepted from day one.

"It took me a little while because I was scared of making the phone call," she added.

"But I now look back knowing what I know now and it was a silly thing to be scared because the welcoming I got in my first training session was absolutely amazing. I'm proud to call them my team mates I really am."

Lucy says the women's game may not attract the same crowds and investment but is "leaps and bounds" ahead of the men's in terms of inclusivity.

"The comments and the feedback from the players which we have seen from social media was just overwhelming," she said.

"Even in the dressing room you've got players from all different spectrums of the LGBTQ+ community and it is just widely accepted.

"We are still waiting for our first openly gay Premier League footballer and yet in the women's game that is just not a thing. It's been there, it's done."

"We are still waiting for our first openly gay Premier League footballer and yet in the women's game that is just not a thing. It's been there, it's done."

In recent years the participation of transgender women in elite female sports has garnered significant media attention.

Last summer, New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard became the first openly transgender athlete to participate at the Olympics – but was swiftly eliminated in the opening round after three failed lifts.

The debate came to the fore again recently following the cases of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and cyclist Emily Bridges, who was ruled ineligible to compete in her first elite women's race by cycling's world governing body.

Debate largely centres around the balance of inclusion and sporting fairness. There have also been concerns over women's safety in single-sex spaces.

Transgender women retain certain advantages – physique, stamina and strength – when competing in female sport, which some elite level performers believe gives them an unfair advantage.

Many high profile sportswomen have spoken out on this issue, most notably former female tennis star Martina Navratilova.

But Stonewall, a charity campaigning for LGBT+ rights in the UK, said that although elite sport "often dominates these discussions", transgender people are also "underrepresented in community sport" where they "often feel excluded".

The organisation added: "Sport has the unique power to bring us together and it's important trans people have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of sport without facing exclusion or abuse."

Lucy believes the view trans women are taking over women's sport is often dogged in misconceptions.

She points towards the lengthy transitioning process, which consists of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and testosterone blockers, and its impact on the body and performance of trans women.

Testosterone levels – a strong indicator of male superiority in elite sport – drops quickly after hormone treatment.

The greatest changes in the strength of trans women on hormone therapy occur in the first 12 months but it is possible that there are further declines in strength thereafter.

On trans people's inclusion in sport, Lucy said: "Everyone should be allowed to play sport whatever our gender identity is or our sexuality.

"With regards to the trans community I know a lot has been said, whether we should be allowed to play or not.

"I think leave it to the scientists who are doing all their homework and research on the matter. They know what they are doing as opposed to Joe Bloggs on the street."

TRUK United FC is a LGBTQ+ friendly football team playing friendlies and charity matches throughout the UK.

The trans-inclusive club formed last year as part of the Trans Radio UK, and supports TRUK Listens, a free telephone helpline.