A Spotlight On Yvie Baldeo

In our latest team member focus, we are shining a light on Yvie Baldeo, our Supervising Social Worker at Fitzgerald Fostering. Yvie is not only a highly experienced social worker but is also one of the original Lionesses and a two-time Women’s FA Cup winner.

How did you get into football?
My first involvement with football came after the 1966 World Cup. I was five years old at the time and picked up a football, pretending to be the England legend Martin Peters. I became so excited that I kicked the ball hard and smashed a window in our house!

At the age of seven, the only comment my teacher made on my school report was: “useful footballer.” I went on to spend a lot of time playing football in the local park. I played alongside a small group of girls, and we would often beat the boys we played against.

Between the ages of 11 and 16, athletics was my main passion, and I became a successful high jumper. At 17, however, I gave up athletics and joined my local football team, Northwood Ladies. I went on to play for several teams, including Howbury Grange and Millwall Lionesses, which was the leading women’s team in England at the time.

When Millwall travelled to Italy on tour, I was scouted by AC Milan and went on to play professional football for a number of years. I returned to the UK and completed my coaching qualifications. I worked as a full-time coach with a number of boys’ and girls’ teams and Fulham Girls’ Academy for about 15 years before eventually becoming a social worker.

What were your biggest footballing achievements?
At Howbury Grange, I scored 2 goals in the 1984 Women’s FA Cup Final, which we won. I also scored the winning goal in the 1991 Women’s FA cup final which was the first time a Women’s FA Cup Final had been televised. This was shown on Channel 4, so the team members all became overnight stars in our hometowns. I also had a number of call ups for the national team.

What attracted you to becoming a social worker?
As a football coach, I became involved in a wide range of community projects in some deprived areas in South London. I also ran play centres and after school clubs. I worked with many children were from disadvantaged backgrounds, including some who were in the care system. I realised that I had the skills to communicate well with the children and their parents, build relationships and manage difficult situations. This led me to a career change, and I joined the leaving care team for Slough Borough Council. The experience inspired me to go to university and gain my social work qualification.

Are there any skills or values from your footballing career that you bring to your role at Fitzgerald Fostering?
Definitely. I am a firm believer in never giving up – there will always be a solution. I enjoy being part of a team; you are not on your own and can work together to achieve a shared goal. Through football, I have also learned the importance of empathy, hard work and commitment, and these are traits that I bring to my job. I also like to see the good in everyone.

I found something, I was passionate about, and people believed in me; it made all the difference. Helping our foster carers to support the young people in their care and helping those young people develop the confidence to believe in themselves is one of the most important and rewarding parts of my job.

Do you still play football?
I have now taken up walking football, which is becoming increasingly popular. I occasionally run training sessions in my local park and other local communities.  At Fitzgerald Fostering, I have occasionally had a kick about with a few of the young people who are looked after by our foster carers when I visit them.  They love it!  I will always be involved in football and love watching football too – in fact, I have watched every match in this year’s World Cup.