Walking football first for women

A new women's walking football team has been launched in Lisburn - believed to be the first of its kind on the island of Ireland.

Formed as part of Hillsborough Walking Football Club (HWFC), the team aims to encourage more women aged 40 and over to get involved in the fast-growing sport. And it is now calling for other teams to get established so they have someone to play against.

Rho McClure, one of the founding members, said: “Walking football is a brilliant way to get active, enjoy a bit of competition, and have a good laugh — all without the physical strain of the traditional game.

"We’d love to see more women come along and give it a go, whether they’ve played before or not. Hopefully this launch inspires other teams to get set up so we can build something bigger across Northern Ireland.”

The team was officially launched by Lisburn and Castlereagh Mayor Alderman Amanda Grehan who joined players on the pitch for a friendly match.

HWFC runs sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, as well as Thursday and Sunday evenings, and is actively welcoming new players. Men and women normally play alongside each other in the sport. The new women’s team will be in addition to that.

Anyone interested in getting involved can contact 07879 297771.