I tried not to make this too long and have left so much out.  However, 10 years had to be condensed into a few pages.

It’s quite hard to think that 10 years ago today, nine women from a personal Facebook post (most were my friends) joined me in a new type of football session for “older” women to learn to play football. I was 48, most of my friends were a bit younger and we had to make it fun and not competitive so everyone would have a great time and want to return the next week. It was and we never looked back!

I will never forget that night of trying to run around, thinking I can’t breathe properly, trying to kick a football in the right direction and not taking in what we were meant to be doing but laughing so much we didn’t want it to end. Two days later, we were still walking gingerly, with all the muscle aches that engaging in no activity in the last 30 years would give you. We didn’t care, we wanted to do it all again and couldn’t wait for the next week. Women starting to learn to play football in their late 40s, ten years ago, was a new thing. The Crawley Town Community Foundation (Amy Fazackerley) who helped set up the session, had received 10 weeks of funding from the Football League Trust, as it was then, so we knew we had at least another 9 weeks of learning to play football, to come. Each week after that, we were joined by other women and what happened in the next 10 years could be written in a book and, most probably will be, one day!

After a few months of running around: I say running around, like we were used to just putting so much effort into making a good pass or getting on the end of a ball but timing and running fast probably isn’t the best way to describe what we were doing! We loved it though and the joy it brought soon found its way to other women.

A few months after we started, me & Amy (Faz from now on) were invited to the Madjeski Stadium for the EFL Trust Southern Conference and were asked to do a presentation on what we were doing. We had something planned but that went out of the window when we just couldn’t stop bouncing off each other with how beneficial and fun these new sessions were. Before we got there, Nicol Meredith, who helped get the funding at the EFL Trust told us that Rachel Pavlou – Head of Women’s Football Development at The FA, was going to be in attendance and we had to impress her. Faz & I just couldn’t stop chatting during our “presentation” and I distinctly remember when Pav (as she is known) came over to us and I spoke to her for the first time, she said “I know exactly how you feel, being from the missed generation”. We kept chatting and I just knew that we were doing something that could benefit so many more women like me and that we needed to get these sessions “out there” for other organisations to set up.

Pav & I have now worked together for the best part of 10 years to increase participation in Women’s Recreational Football and I think it’s safe to say that there are now thousands of women around the country who are now enjoying playing football, recreationally.

As it was a new concept for Women’s Football, we were lucky enough to get involved in some great opportunities, such as TV and radio, to promote Recreational Football nationally and we won some prestigious awards.

Throughout the years, we have been involved in BBC South East films, courtesy of Sam Supple, launches for the FA People’s Cup as well as radio interviews on national radio stations and we have great relationships with Women in Football, Women in Sport, Women’s Sport Collective and the Women’s Sport Trust to name a few wonderful organisations, who have all helped us to increase the profile of Women’s Recreational Football.

In the early days we also worked closely with Joe Comper, who was then at Crawley Town FC and were able to use the facilities for various events and filming which all contributed to assisting in the rise of women starting to play.

It wasn’t just the football, either. We wanted to help the local Community and one way we did that was to deliver a programme called “COGS & Care Homes” where we took foam footballs and washing baskets to a local residential home to encourage the dementia patients to get active with a football. Unfortunately, covid put a stop to that.  Please see this video to see the joy that it bought to both us and the residents!

We have also heard so many inspiring stories from the many women who have joined us. For example, Rachel, who has a hidden disability that no one would have known, due to her tenacity with trying to “just get on with it”. Susan, who is nearly 80 and attends our Walking Football session with a smile and a determination that age won’t define her. Women in their 60s running around like youngsters, increasing their wellbeing and confidence and the sheer number of women who have increased their physical and mental health through playing football for fun and enjoyment. We also have a community of supportive, empowering women who will gather together in times of need, whether it’s to raise money for a charity or one of our own. Selfless women who want to help others. Volunteers, women who now watch and help promote women’s football, COGS who have gained FA Certificates in coaching and other areas. The list is endless as to what a group of women who belong to a team sport can do.

We celebrated our tenth anniversary with an evening of memories and inspiration and that is how we are going forward.

We will create more memories and carry on with our motto “Be Inspired – Be Inspiring”. Ten years has flown by so we need to make the most of every bit of time available as, sadly, some women don’t get that privilege. Maggie Smith, our former COG didn’t get that chance. Rest in peace, Maggie.

If you get the chance to join any group of women to learn or return to play football, don’t hesitate, because it might just change your life!

Here’s a glimpse of the last 10 years..

Finally, we would like to thank The FA for giving us opportunities and for helping us to work with them in raising the profile of Women’s Recreational Football.

Remember…

It’s never too late to start playing football

You’re never too old to learn

It’s never too late to put on some boots

Whether you’re a beginner or want to return!