Players enjoy fun and friendship at women's walking football club
Fun, friendship and football – that’s how members of a newly-formed women’s walking football club describe their weekly training sessions.
Walking football has taken the country by storm since it was first conceived in 2011 and now there are more than 1,000 clubs registered in the UK.
One of the newest was formed in Shrewsbury in March and was inspired by the Lionesses’ triumph in the Euros tournament last summer.
Open to women over the age of 55, it was set up by Kate Brown with support from Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin and Energize Shropshire Telford & Wrekin.
Every Wednesday morning players spend an hour honing their skills, catching up with their friends and enjoying being active in the fresh air.
“My husband has been playing for the men’s walking football club for 10 years and I thought there should be one for women too,” says Kate, who lives in Shrewsbury. “We’re the generation that wasn’t allowed to play football – we could play hockey, which is more dangerous, but not football.
“I have always enjoyed watching football and I would have played at school if we hadn’t been banned. Now we can play every week.”
Walking football was first conceived as a sport to be played by men over 50 and women over 40.
But it’s also proven popular with young players who can’t play the traditional game due to injury or mobility and much older players including those in their 80s. As the name suggests, the biggest difference is that running or jogging, either with the ball or off the ball, is not allowed in games, which are normally six-a-side. Players can walk as fast as they want and they can tackle, although this must be done with no contact.
