Townsville mother of aspiring soccer player blasts Marty Sheargold comments
The mother of a soccer-lover who idolises a Matilda has spoken about her ‘disgust’ in Marty Sheargold’s comments, saying she is ‘heartbroken’ for tiny sports people who look up to the Aussie icons.
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A 7-year-old Townsville boy who lives with a hearing aid has decided he wants to become a famous soccer player.
He made that choice after watching the 2023 World Cup with his mum, inspired by Matilda’s player Mackenzie Arnold, who like him, wears a hearing aid.
After a now-former radio DJ publicly and proudly said he would ‘rather put a nail in his d---‘ than watch women’s football, that little boy’s mum has expressed her “disgust” and “heartbreak” over his actions.
The DJ, Marty Sheargold, was fired over his comments that have been labelled sexist and derogatory, with many famous female athletes saying there was still a long way to go in how women’s sport is perceived.
Karen Maddick, who manages her son’s soccer team at Northern Beaches United Football Club, says more children are playing soccer since the Matilda’s epic World Cup run.
“Our president mentioned last year we had one all girls’ team registered to play and this year we’ve been able to register four teams across all age groups,” the mum said.
It is the first time the club has been able to register in the girl’s competition.
“My son who plays soccer, he also has a hearing aid just like Mackenzie Arnold so even he draws that comparison to this international star,” she said.
“(He said): ’Mum, she can do it, she can play soccer with a hearing aid, so can I’ and I’m like ‘absolutely you can bud’.
“His role models aren’t just the Ronaldos and the Messis – it’s also the women and that is important.”
When the mother heard Sheargold’s comments, Mrs Maddick said she was “disgusted”.
“I thought, what if I had girls in the car? What if my boys were listening to that? And think that’s an acceptable way to talk? I got angry,” she said.
“It’s not funny, it’s not humorous, lift up the Matildas, lift up year 10 girls, don’t insult them by trying to insult the Matildas.
“For me, raising two little boys it’s about challenging the narrative. That’s not how we speak, that’s not okay behaviour, and we support boys and girls.”
The outrage comes after regional DJ presenters AB and Elliott were let go from Townsville’s Triple M drive segment in favour of Sheargold’s show.
“Since they took Elliott and AB off the radio, I stopped listening to Triple M,” Mrs Maddick said.
“I miss them. AB is always empowering and lifting up women in sport and men in sport.”
On Mix FM 92.7, based in the Sunshine Coast, Annabelle Brett – known as AB – spoke with her co-host Mark Darin Thursday morning about the explosive statements
“A lot of people didn’t realise as well after those women’s sport comments he actually made some comments about endometriosis,” AB said on air.
“He made a joke where he insinuated endometriosis is a made up disease.”
“I was shocked by that,” her co-host Mark replied.
AB told listeners while she was on air in Townsville, her priority was encouraging regional sports for men and women.
“We were really championing women’s sport as well as just sports in general in regional Queensland because we love it here,” she said.
“That’s my most upsetting element is that local radio has the ability to champion local sport, both men and women’s and there was someone who … didn’t just make a joke, let’s be real.”
“It wasn’t a joke, it was vindictive. It was really nasty,” Mark added.
Local breakfast DJs Archie and Donny weighed in on women’s sport when speaking to the Townsville Bulletin and said despite being a male duo they took pride in providing an accessible and inclusive show to all.
“It makes me genuinely sad when I read negative comments about the Matildas, sometimes it feels helpless,” Donny said.
“I’ve got two sisters and a mum who played sport their entire lives and I’ve got a lot of friends that play sports, it makes you sad more than anything.”
Archie noted that the women’s soccer team, who once played to a packed crowd in Townsville, hold the record in Australia of the highest TV audience.
“It speaks for itself, they’re amazing,” he said.
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