FURD held its first women's football tournament on Sunday 19th April 2015, especially for 'veteran' players over the age of 35.
Four teams played in the 6-a-side competition with a total of 28 women taking part. Nine of the participants were over the age of 50, with the oldest being 61. Each team was allowed to field one younger player, meaning the total age range was 17 to 61. Some of the spectators present were there to watch their grandmas pay football.Players were encouraged to sign up as individuals and teams were then allocated with an even age distribution in each side.
FURD recently entered a team in the `female veterans` category of the BBC Get Inspired/FA 'People`s Cup' national 5-a-side competition. But, as only four teams entered the category, it was cancelled. Two of those four were in Sheffield, so FURD got together with the other team, Nunny's Funky Boots, to do it ourselves.
FURD's Women and Girls Football Worker Ruth Johnson said, 'We`re delighted that we've managed to get as many teams together just from the Sheffield area today as entered the People's Cup over the whole of the country. I hope we can inspire others back into their football boots and prove that if appropriate opportunities and encouragement are available, women love to play football. As more younger women are playing football now, the potential for 'veterans' and recreational football can only grow in the future. I hope this is just the beginning!`
Any women or girls aged 10+ of any standard can join our Just Play football sessions at the U-Mix Centre every Tuesday from 6-7pm. This is an open age session but with a strong veterans presence. We hope to start some girls' football sessions on Saturdays soon.
Please contact Ruth at FURD for more information.