Walking football has been a lifesaver for me.
I had a disastrous year in 2021 when I lost my dad to Covid. We had his funeral in February and then in March, my partner of 16 years walked out. It was a horrible, horrible time.
I’d already been a member of a walking football team for a couple of years by then and that saved me.
I might cry in the car on the way there, but after a lovely session and a bit of socialising afterwards, I’d go home feeling a lot better.
I’ve always liked watching football and I would have loved to have played it at school, but it wasn’t an option for girls.
I used to do quite a bit of running, but then in my early 50s I injured my back and couldn't continue.
I first came across walking football while looking online for something I could do that would allow me to be active without damaging my back.
There’s a women’s club running weekly sessions near my home on the outskirts of Birmingham and there’s even a Midlands league now, so we play games against women across the region.
At a recent tournament I met a lady who’s 79 and still scoring goals!
Walking football is not as laidback as it sounds.
Although you have to have one foot on the ground at all times, it really gets your heart pumping – especially if you do a bit of secret jogging when the ref’s not looking!
But to me it doesn’t feel like exercise. I’m just playing with a great bunch of ladies who've become my friends. It’s given me a whole new social life and has been just as good for my mental health as it has for my heart and joints.
My generation wasn’t really encouraged to be active, and I think a lot of girls were put off sports at school. But coming to sport later in life is completely different to school.
You don’t have to be competitive or elite. You’re just playing with friends.
Of course, your passion might be dancing or walking a friend’s dog. That’s okay – just find a way to move that you enjoy.
And the best bit? If you decide it’s not for you, you won’t get detention!