A woman from Salford who said playing walking football has “given her a new lease of life socially” and helped her rediscover who she is beyond motherhood, has urged others to join her team.
Michaela Leech, 37, has been involved in running Foundation 92’s Women’s walking football side for over two years and explained they accommodate players of all ages and abilities.
She highlighted that England goalkeeper Sarah Clamp plays alongside beginners, looking for a way to stay active, in an environment where “women feel seen, supported and empowered.”
“At Foundation 92, we have women from 35 to late 60s and they all come from different walks of life, with different experiences and different social backgrounds. We are quite proud to be welcoming and inclusive.”
The team train once a week on a Wednesday from 7-8pm and play three matches on the second Sunday of the month at Bolton Arena in the Lancashire league.
“Football is a bonus, it’s the tool which brings everyone together and allows us to build confidence and friendships that come with playing for the team,” Michaela said.
“It has helped me because I’m not very good at making new friends anyway. So I work from home five days a week. I’ve got two kids.
“I ran my son’s football team for around 10 years. So I’d be working from home and then standing on a football pitch, working from home. So social side of things, I would struggle to make new friends and I think that is not just me.
“A lot of us in the group have felt a similar way at some stage. People don’t have the opportunity to make new friends as they get older because their social circles get smaller. Playing walking football has been massively important for me. ”
Being affiliated with Foundation 92, Salford City FC’s charitable arm, means that all sessions are free of charge. “You walk out your front door nowadays and you’ve already spent £100, it is really nice to be financially supported.”
And at the weekend, the team raced back from an afternoon game in Bolton in time to watch Salford City Lionesses beat Pilkington Women 5-3 at the Peninsula Stadium, where they were treated to complimentary food and drink in the hospitality section.
“We had a brilliant time and it was great for the girls to meet the guys from the foundation, to get reassurance that they are fully behind us.”
Michaela explained that while the Foundation 92 Women’s Walking football team currently have 10 players on their books, they would love to see numbers rise to 14-16 so they can play seven-a-side matches in training.
When asked why people should join the team, she said playing the non-contact sport was a great way to improve mobility, cardiovascular health and, above all, mental wellbeing.
“I burn around 500 to 600 calories in an hour’s session there. It’s good for calorie burning and is accessible for all fitness levels.
But, importantly, it’s really good to boost social connection and build a network of support for women.”
More information about the Foundation 92 Women’s Walking Football team is available here.
