From The Stands to The Pitch

 


For 35 years I stood on terraces and sat in stands, shouting myself hoarse at Watford games. I met Lenny there, I married Lenny there (well, not literally at Vicarage Road, but you get the idea), and I spent decades thinking my role in football was as a fan, not a player.

Then, this summer, I laced up my first pair of boots.

Walking Football Summer School in Lewes was my step from supporter to player. I won’t lie — I was nervous. I’ve refereed before, years ago, back when being a woman ref in a men’s game meant putting up with plenty of grief. But play? Never. Watching, yes. Knowing the game inside out, yes. But actually kicking the ball? That was new territory.

Day One: Laces Tied, Butterflies in Stomach

I looked around and saw all sorts — women and men, some confident, some clearly just as nervous as me. Within minutes, the coach had us laughing, passing, and even turning with the ball. I surprised myself: all those years of watching really did give me a sense of where to be on the pitch.

Lenny was hovering nearby, of course, checking my boots. He didn’t say it, but I know he was hoping I wouldn’t outshine his blue ones.

Day Two: Finding My Feet

The second session felt different. Less nerves, more fun. I even found myself shouting encouragement — not from the stands this time, but from the pitch. It felt great! And yes, I made mistakes, but the nice thing was, nobody cared. The spirit of walking football is that everyone gets a go, everyone’s included, and nobody’s made to feel silly.

Why I’ll Be Back

Football is about belonging, and now I feel like I belong not just as a fan, not just as Lenny’s “better half,” but as a player too. My boots might not be flashy, but they’re mine, and they’ll be back on the pitch next week. Thanks to Steff and his excellent summer school.

And just between us — Joe’s expertly prepared cocktails at the summer social definitely helped with the sore legs afterwards. 🍸

💬 Your Turn
Have you ever been nervous about joining your first session — football or otherwise? What gave you the confidence to step onto the pitch (or into something new)? Drop a comment — I’d love to hear your stories.

Thank you Lydia for your guest contribution today.

👉 And a quick note, head over to Substack, we’ve started rewarding Substackers who recommend this blog to other readers, just share the blog and if you get 3 friends to subscribe you’ll get a FREE Ebook Mind, Body, Boots: The Benefits of Walking Football.



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