Women’s Over 35s – More Events Planned
At the beginning of the month, Cumberland FA kicked off the Over 35 (Veteran) provision for Women alongside the final Women’s Winter Festival of the season.
More than 20 women aged 35 or over enjoyed a kick about at Harraby 3G for the first ever ‘Turn Up and Play’ session in Cumbria!
On arrival, the women were split into teams and following a short warm up played some 5v5 and 6v6 games. Experience varied, with some women having played regularly in the past and others giving it a try for the first time or coming back to the game after a long break.
Helen Aitchison, Football Development Officer for Cumberland FA stated “It was fantastic to see the Astro and pens at Harraby 3G full of women playing. It was a really positive afternoon and gives us a good foundation to build on going forward.”
The ‘Turn Up and Play’ Roadshow moves to Workington next month before heading back to Carlisle in May. The FREE taster sessions give women aged 35 and over an opportunity to come along in a friendly and fun environment to have a kick about.
Any women aged 35 and over are invited to come along and play – with any experience welcome – the events are played in a friendly atmosphere as we aim to increase the number of playing opportunities for this age group.
Throughout the summer, the ‘Turn Up and Play’ events will also run alongside with the FIFA Women’s World Cup as England aim to build on their European Championship win!
More details to follow!
The NEXT ‘TURN UP & PLAY’ EVENTS
Lakes College 3G, Workington
Sunday 30 April 2023, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Harraby 3G Pens, Carlisle
Sunday 21 May 2023, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Dallam School 3G, Milnthorpe
Sunday 11 June 2023, 12-2pm
A Facebook page has also been created to bring women aged 35 and over together to share information and develop a community of players and volunteers into the game. You can ask to join the Women only group HERE
CALLING ALL CLUBS
Following a successful first Turn Up and Play event, we want to encourage local Clubs to get involved to help make the programme sustainable with some kind of league provision in the future to fit the needs of women aged 35+
With women aged 35 and over involved in all grassroots football clubs across Cumberland, we would like to know if there is any interest in some ‘Club based events’ (with Cumberland FA support) so we’re asking Cumberland FA Clubs to complete this short survey as we continue to support and develop playing opportunities for women at this age group.
With a Workington event planned on 30 April and Carlisle on 21 May, we want to provide opportunities across the county throughout the summer (whether weekend or evening) to support women aged 35+ to play the game.
For more information or enquires, or if you would like to set up a local weekly ‘Just Play’ centre for women aged 35 and over, please contact Cumberland FA’s Football Development Officer, Helen Aitchison, on 01900 511800 or email Helen.Aitchison@CumberlandFA.com