'Incredible friendships and an unbeatable team spirit' - Watford's FA Walking Football Cup win

Oct 20

3 min read

Sunday saw the first ever O50s Women's FA Walking Football Cup played at St George's Park. Teams who had qualified through county and regional heats competed against one another at the home of the England teams. The final couldn't have been closer, with Watford Hornets going on to record a historic win in the inaugural tournament.

Six teams - Bolton Arena, Bristol Badgers, Forest Vets, Newcastle Swifts, Thames Women and Watford Hornets - qualified from their regional rounds to spend the day battling against one another at St George's Park. Each team played against each other in eighteen minute games, before the top two competed in the final.

Bolton Arena and Watford Hornets were first and second respectively in the league rankings and progressed to the final. In a close fought game, the teams couldn't be separated at 0-0. The first ever women's O50s tournament was decided by penalties, with Watford securing victory with some clinical finishing in the shoot out.

WF4W asked Watford Hornets captain, Holly Lovell, to tell us about the teams's journey to their historic win:

"Last year, I took a leap of faith. In April, with funding from the FA Equal Game Fund and huge support from the club.

Along with Nabs (the only other female in the club at Watford), I started a women’s section at Watford Walking Football Club. We advertised for women who wanted to play football at a slower pace and with low contact. We had a complete mix of abilities, but everyone shared the exact same thing: a drive to improve and a desire to be part of something special—a section offering fun, friendship, support, competition, fitness, coaching, and a true sense of belonging.

18 months later, we’ve built incredible friendships, a home to enjoy a sport many of us never had the chance to play growing up, and an unbeatable team spirit across all our teams.

Sunday was the ultimate pinnacle of my own walking football journey so far: winning the first-ever FA Walking Football Cup in the Women's 50s category.

Moments like this don’t happen by accident. A heartfelt thank you to the FA for hosting such a flawlessly organised tournament and providing this incredible opportunity, supported by superb refereeing from start to finish. Competing at St. George’s Park—the home of England Football—was truly surreal. Seeing the players’ faces light up and watching them record every moment as we arrived showed just how much this experience meant to everyone involved.

Walking football is about so much more than what happens on the pitch. It gives us a reason to get out, a second chance to play the game we love, and a strong network of friends who truly support one another through life's challenges. At this point in our lives, purpose and mental stimulation are vital—and walking football delivers both.

Huge credit to the FA—I really hope they keep running this tournament the exact same way! It was brilliantly executed, made every player feel appreciated, and showed just how much top-tier walking football matters.

This team has truly become like family to me. There was no better feeling in the world than lifting that trophy side-by-side with them. Here’s to how far we’ve come—and everything still to come!"

Well done to all six teams for succeeding regionally and making it such a fantastic day. A huge congratulations to Watford Hornets on their win!

Photos: Watford Hornets and Marie Day of WF4W