Rachel Writes: BBC 5 Live commentary, FA Cup Final, maternity leave and UCFB mentorship (column)

Rachel Brown-Finnis’s column, written as she prepares for maternity leave with her baby due on 29 September. She describes covering a number of games for BBC 5 Live, in particular the Women’s FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Notts County, calling commentary at a final that attracted a record-breaking 30,000 people an amazing experience, alongside regular WSL coverage for BT Sport. She reports a first opportunity reporting for BBC 5 Live Extra at a Notts County game, saying she had not truly understood what being a sports reporter means and enjoyed talking to fans, players and managers rather than analysing tactics. At UCFB she has been working on a project pairing students with leading professional women in the sport and leisure industries as mentors and role models.