my footy life

As a young girl in the 1970s I avidly watched MOTD and ‘The Big Match’ on a Sunday, as well as local teams on the Rec, but girls weren’t expected to play.

After my ‘O’ Levels I eventually found a local women’s team – Molesey United – and was able to get a game, after years kicking a ball around by myself in the garden.

So I’ve played football all my life but had to hang up my boots about 10 years ago. Our local women’s recreational set up organised by Firmitude in Bournemouth (‘Wellbeing is a Team Sport’) keeps tempting me but my body says otherwise these days.

Luckily I have (2023!) discovered the joys of Walking Football. This is growing as a sport at an exponential rate and no wonder.  All these ex-players starting over, and no end of women who never had the chance to play football, now enjoying their moment on the ball. Read my post about Women’s Walking Football >

I played for numerous teams over the years;  Islington Ladies, Arsenal Women Reserves, Croydon Women Reserves, Freedom Glads, Clapton Orient WFC and Amhurst Aztecs FC at the Gay Games 1998 (Bronze medal) and Sydney 2002 (Gold medal!).