Breaking Barriers With Walking Football

By Kate O'Reilly

Football had never been a sport I played or watched growing up, and to be honest, I didn't really have any interest in it at all. But, being married to a football fanatic who would watch every match he could, I began intermittently watching with him. Occasionally, I would go with him and the kids and watch Lincoln City during the Keith Alexander era.

Fast forward to June 2018 when a friend invited me to a walking football session held on the 3G pitch. Feeling very nervous, I agreed to attend and from there began a love of all things LCFC and football. The ladies welcomed me in, and although my skills were non-existent, I managed to score a goal in the first session. I remember going home and describing the session in full detail to the family. I couldn't wait to go back the following week.

Rain or shine, I was there on a Saturday morning, learning a little more each week. It helps to have much more experienced players on the pitch with you because they are constantly coaching us all as a team to improve. For example, I had no idea what it meant to press on the ball or get the player's goal side.

During this time, I started to attend the occasional match to watch Lincoln City and began to see what I was learning each week. On the pitch at the LNER, they played a square ball or an overlap, and I could see what I was learning in action. As a result, my appreciation for the game increased. I started looking forward to the weeks I could attend the match. So we finally decided to get a season ticket so I could attend every home match and the occasional away match.

Our walking football team was invited to attend and watch Lincoln City Women. Again my enjoyment for the game increased, and I now go to watch them as often as I can.

I have become captain of our team and recently have been picked to represent my country as part of the International Walking Football Association and am looking forward to playing in the world cup in Florence in July.

Football has helped improve my Physical and Mental Health and has become a family affair. My husband began a walking football team with his service users at work. Both my sisters have started playing walking football, and the ladies I play with have now become more than just friends they have become my football family.

To find out more about our women's walking football team and how you can get involved click here