Why Malton is Sophie's choice of an ideal home (From Gazette & Herald)

Why Malton is Sophie's choice of an ideal home

11:41am Thursday 15th November 2007

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She's successful, young, glamorous and her favourite nightspot is the Spotted Cow pub in Malton cattle market. Sounds a little idiosyncratic? Meet York City Football Club director Sophie McGill, who was talking to CLAIRE BOTTOMLEY.

"I love living in Malton, I think it's fantastic.

''I think that the great thing about it is that it's a real, working, honest town, it's not just a tourist venue or a theme park."

It seems strange talking about the delights of Malton over a coffee with Sophie McGill, who is more familiar as the spokesperson for York's Blue Square Premier football club. But it seems that for this savvy business woman, one of only three women football directors in the UK, Malton is not only home, it's a spiritual retreat.

A former head girl of Bootham School in York, she went to university in Newcastle and has an MBA in the football industry.

She worked at Manchester City and at York City in marketing and public relations roles before leaving to join her family's business, J M Packaging in Malton, in 2001, which was when she moved to the market town.

But the following December it all kicked off at her beloved York City Football Club, where she is a life-long fan.

The former chairman put the club up for sale and Sophie was instrumental in setting up a Supporters Trust which eventually became the club's owners.

Under the new regime Sophie, her brother Jason and their father are three of the club's board of unpaid directors. J M Packaging, a supplier to the major UK supermarkets, where she still holds down a day job as sales manager, is a vital support to the club as its majority shareholder.

And in spite of her rising football profile in York, Sophie stuck by her decision to move to Malton, and it's a decision she says has paid off.

"It was six years ago that I moved here and I've just found it really works for me, " she said. "I work about 400 metres from where I live and Malton is a great place, it's improved a lot over six years with far more facilities like restaurants and bars, it's a bit of a sanctuary for me away from my life with the football club.

"A lot of local people are very supportive of what we do and when they get to know you they are always asking about the results, they take a general interest but it's not intrusive, it's just really nice."

And it's not only home, but the place she found love, having recently got engaged to boyfriend Rob Hicks, who is from a farming family and is now the Malton branch secretary of the National Farmers Union. They met one Saturday night in the Spotted Cow.

"When I met Rob the joke was that I was Sophie the townie and he was farmer Rob, " she said.

"I'm obviously used to the business world and things being based around the city. I really value the things that I've learnt and understand the really pressing issues that are facing farming. Our company provides packaging to supermarkets, so I see both sides."

Opposites certainly do attract if Sophie and Rob's sporting tastes are anything to go by. Rob is a big rugby fan, and still plays for Malton and Norton RUFC, making Saturdays a time of great division.

"He goes off to the rugby club and I get on a coach with 13 other men - sounds a bit funny doesn't it?" she jokes.

"He's very supportive of me and generally really encourages me to do what I do.

Obviously I was a director of York City when I met Rob and that was very much part and parcel of the package, but I think it's good to have your own interests."

But whenever York City aren't playing on a Saturday, Sophie will be down at the rugby club watching Rob play, and likewise if City have a midweek match Rob will be there.

Whatever the sport, Sophie thinks it is really positive for people to be involved, and her passion for the club and the game, coupled with a desire to make a difference, are what drives her.

"We've given free football coaching to 65 schools and we work with young offenders and that is incredibly rewarding, " said Sophie. "Football can have a hugely positive effect and make a real difference to people's lives, and by encouraging children to get involved in football you can use it as a vehicle to improve anti-social behaviour."

As head of the club's community strategy, she certainly has her eye on the long game.

"You have to be realistic?York City is never going to be Man United, what we have to do is create our own fan-base of youngsters and ensure that York City is a true community football club.

''To do that we need to be at the heart of the community and work with children, who are the next generation of supporters of York City."

It is clear that York City Football Club is very lucky to have Sophie McGill, and if Malton can play a supporting role, that's all to the good.

''I think that all directors of football clubs feel that they are custodians, and during our time we must ensure that when we pass on the baton to the next generation we leave the club in a better position than we found it, " she said.

Yes, she's taken on a huge sense of responsibility in her life. It's just a good job she has a spiritual retreat to which she can escape.

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