Walking footballers are gearing up to compete in a major tournament.
Some who have waited decades to play the sport will represent north-east England in their first Walking Football Association (WFA) Women’s Super League in Gloucester on 17 May.
Many of the players said they could only dream of taking part in a sport historically dominated by men, but now some are also competing for spots in the national side.
Centre-forward Jackie Freeman, 61 and from Saltburn, said she was “really looking forward” to playing in the tournament and felt confident the teams would win.
“Since I was little I always kicked a football about,” she said.
After playing regular football from the age of 17, she was selected for national training sessions with England but said she “couldn’t afford to go” which was “sickening”.
“I got over it and put it aside, I had to pay for myself I had no job,” she said.
Freeman got married at 24 and “missed the football” for 35 years while focusing on family life and running a shoe repair business.
But two years ago, her family encouraged her to play again.
The mother-of-three said she joined the Redcar Town Ladies Development football team playing regular 11-aside football and the Stokesley walking football team.
After first getting back into football she said she could “hardly walk the next day” but the training had got her fitter.
“I’m really excited about playing in it [Super League], I’m looking forward to it and I’m confident,” she said.
Julie Norris, 56, from Guisborough, helps coach women in their 40s as part of the regional team.
The former deputy headteacher, who will represent England as and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
