Southport Football Club Sporting Director Tammy Burgess has a remarkable story to tell as one of the headline speakers at International Women’s Day in Southport.
The glittering event, organised by Queenscourt Hospice and sponsored by Financial Planning Corporation (FPC) and LeaseCar UK takes place at The Grand in Southport this Friday (7th March 2025).
Tammy enjoyed a successful footballing career, winning a League Title with Everton.
She will be able to talk about her days as a pioneer in the growth of modern day professional women’s football in the UK and the immense changes she has seen – as well as changes that still need to come.
That is why the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Accelerate Action’.
The event will celebrate how far women have come, as well as looking at the changes in society that still need to come.
Tammy Byrne (now Burgess) was one of the great talents in the Everton Football Club Ladies squad which won a League Title in 1997/98.
She is blazing a trail once again, appointed as Sporting Director at Southport Football Club.
She is a beacon for more female leaders in the game at all levels.
Tammy said: “I had older brothers and played football in Croxteth. I hadn’t played football in a team, so I didn’t actually know how good I was, but I knew I could compete with the boys in the street.
“When I was 17, I played five-a-side with a team run by a guy called Ronnie Brown, and he took me to a football tournament in Moss Farm.
“Having seen me play, the Everton girls asked me to come along to their training on the Bill Shankly playing fields, just across the way from Bellefield.
“I went along on the Wednesday and signed for them on the Friday.
“I was training and playing with the first team squad straight away.
“It was that quick! It wouldn’t happen like that these days, now the game is so much more professional. But that was where we were back then, but it was an exciting opportunity for me.”
Tammy had some role models she could look up to – something which has inspired her own leadership qualities today.
She said: “Joy ‘Baz’ McQuiggan was a real role model for me. She’d do anything for the players coming through.
“She was older but wasn’t afraid of the young ones – in fact, she inspired them. That’s what we need, women supporting other women.
“If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have had a career in football. She really took me under her wing and taught me a lot.
“They were very different times. It has been brilliant to see the growth of the professional women’s game, but in my day you really had to juggle.
“We had to be very committed to do what we did, finding time for training and playing alongside working and raising families.
“It was hard but it was what we loved doing.
“Sometimes I used to wake up at 5am, go running, and then come home in time for breakfast, and then go to work.
“We trained twice a week and played on Sunday, but the older players let us know that us young ones needed to do a bit more in their own time – like during lunchtimes – to compete with them. “That gave us the right encouragement to put a bit extra in to be our best.”
Tammy played for Everton Ladies for 11 years. She then went across Stanley Park and played for Liverpool for two games before returning to The People’s Club.
Tammy said: “I was one of the first women players to have a baby, when I was 23 years old. “There was no such thing as maternity rights in women’s football, back then. I was playing when pregnant with Macy against Arsenal – I felt quite queasy and had to come off. I trained right through pregnancy – I didn’t know if it was safe – and I was back in the Everton team six weeks after giving birth! Then I had my son, Jake.
“We started to get more professional athletes coming in, and I knew that I had to get fitter to get back in the team – it was a bit of a struggle. I had a frank conversation with Mo, explaining that I couldn’t do it with my kids, and she was fine with it. It broke my heart to leave Everton, but I had to do it for my family.”
Tammy then joined Liverpool and won the second division with them, staying for eight years before playing for Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest as she juggled work, football and family.
Now she is at Southport Football Club, where she has been warmly welcomed by players, supporters and club staff alike.
Tammy is working alongside her husband, Andy Burgess, the Chief Operating Officer at Southport, and a former player at Luton Town.
She continues to break new ground and inspire the women around her.
International Women’s Day takes place at The Grand, on Lord Street, from 12pm onwards on Friday, 7th March 2025.
Guests will enjoy a delicious two course meal, entertainment, a glass of fizz upon arrival sponsored by LWC, and talks by three top figures.
All funds raised during the day will go towards Queenscourt Hospice, a local charity that delivers exceptional care for people with life-limiting illnesses in West Lancashire, Southport and Formby.
The host for the day will be West End performer John Coates. John is a West End actor with over 30 years in the entertainment industry.
Speakers are:
- Serena Silcock, Head of Operations, Silcock Leisure Group
- Alan Adams, General Manager, Southport Flower Show & Victoria Park Events
- Tammy Burgess, Southport Football Club Sporting Director
Entertainment will be provided by superb local singer Kelly Bond.
Media and PR support is being provided through Stand Up For Southport.
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.
IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere.
People are invited to make International Women’s Day your day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women.
Queenscourt Hospice Fundraising Manager Liz Hartley said:
“International Women’s Day is not only a time to celebrate the achievements of women, but also to recognise the role of men in supporting equality and helping to drive positive change. This year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action,’ reminds us that progress requires collective effort.
“On a local level, we have the power to make a real difference – whether through supporting the women in our lives or working together to ensure everyone has equal opportunities.
“As we come together to celebrate and raise funds for Queenscourt Hospice, we also honour the strength, resilience, and unity of our entire community – women and men alike – working side by side to create a more equal future.”
Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group Business Development Manager Ged Janssen said:
“We are delighted to be working with Queenscourt Hospice on this International Women’s Day event to celebrate women.
“It is an inclusive event and Liz Hartley has some amazing speakers lined up.
“The Grand is a fabulous venue to host such an event and we look forward to welcoming guests.”
Silcock Leisure Group Head of Operations Serena Silcock-Prince said:
“It’s brilliant to see International Women’s Day becoming more well known. It is a truly global event, and I am looking forward to speaking at this very special occasion here in Southport.
“It’s a wonderful day for celebrating women, and I am very excited to be a part of it.
“I am very lucky to have been able to grow up surrounded by some very strong, kind and supportive women around me.
“Silcock Leisure Group has long been a supporter of Queenscourt Hospice in many ways, including sponsoring and hosting their annual Southport Santa Sprint. We are always keen to help them in any way we can.
“The Grand is a stunning venue and a beautiful setting for this occasion.
“International Women’s Day at The Grand will be a great way for women to come together and to encourage and support each other moving forward.”
Kelly Bond said:
“I am delighted to once again be performing at The Grand for International Women’s Day 2025.
“It’s always an honour to be part of Queenscourt’s fundraising efforts as I have a personal connection to them as an organisation.
“The work they do is astonishing and I’m always happy to lend a helping hand in their efforts to raise much needed funds.”
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