In the fast-paced world of sports coverage, the true thrill often lies not in the obvious headlines, but in the meticulous pursuit of hidden narratives. Ella Brockway, who has recently joined the Guardian as an assistant sports editor in the United States, embodies this detail-oriented approach, framing her journalistic journey as a lifelong treasure hunt.
A Lifelong Passion for Discovery
From childhood, Brockway was captivated by stories that involved searching for clues and uncovering secrets. Her favourites included the film National Treasure, the book series The 39 Clues, and word puzzles, all of which nurtured her love for investigation. She even dreamt of creating a book project centred on a treasure hunt across Olympic host cities and World Cup stadiums, a fantasy that reflects her enduring fascination with exploration.
The Journalistic Search for Hidden Gems
Today, Brockway finds that same excitement in journalism, where she delights in the search for stories that lurk in unexpected places. She is drawn to projects that emerge from small details, such as gems hidden within box scores or game notes. These might include players with demanding side jobs, books that captivate locker rooms, or uniform details that fans obsess over. For her, sports provide a target-rich environment for such discoveries, with soccer standing out as particularly fertile ground.
The stories surrounding soccer—its history, crowds, cultures, songs, individuality, and global scope—are abundant and ever-evolving. Brockway admits she fell in love with the off-field narratives before fully grasping the on-field action, a perspective that now informs her editorial work. The subtle intricacies of the game complement her meticulous approach to sifting through transcriptions for the perfect quotes, while the relentless fixture list demands focused, outline-driven writing.
The Editorial Craft and Future Endeavours
Brockway compares the satisfaction of structuring a story to scoring a goal, where everything clicks into place seamlessly. This affinity for editing has naturally drawn her to roles that shape narratives. Her search for stories remains an ongoing adventure, driven by a quest for what is new, next, or concealed beneath the surface.
She joins the Guardian as part of its expansion in covering soccer in the United States ahead of the 2026 World Cup, alongside new hires Pablo Iglesias Maurer and Jeff Rueter as soccer correspondents. Based in Washington DC, Brockway is poised to bring her detail-oriented, treasure-hunting ethos to the forefront of sports journalism, ensuring that the hidden stories of the game receive the attention they deserve.
