Player Story: Debbie Naylor

Harrogate Strays and IWFF England Over-60s player Debbie Naylor opens up about her transition from 11-a-side football, the health scare that changed her outlook on life, and becoming a walking football world champion at 65. Debbie's journey is one of resilience, determination and rediscovering joy in the game.

I’ve always been sports-mad, especially football. I started following the game at 13, inspired by Stoke City legend Gordon Banks, and became a lifelong Potters fan as a result. Girls didn’t play football at school in the 1970s, but I grabbed any chance to join the boys in the playground at lunchtimes.

At 24 I discovered the women’s game

and joined Nabwood Ladies FC in Bradford. Over the next 20 years I played for several teams, with a brief (and my knees would probably say unhelpful!) foray into rugby at 38. 

By the age of 44 my knees forced me to give up the 11-a-side game, and after a few more years of 6-a-side and three arthroscopies later, I finally had to stop completely. I filled the gap with squash, racketball and gym classes, but nothing matched the feeling of being part of a team. 

Then, in 2017 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy.

It was a turning point, a reminder that life is short.

I took up padel tennis, at least that’s played in pairs so there’s an element of teamwork involved.

Fast-forward to 2023 when former Knaresborough Town FC team-mate Elaine told me about Harrogate Town Foundation’s women’s walking football sessions. I was hooked immediately. Soon after, another team-mate Jo introduced me to Harrogate Strays, and I joined their twice-weekly sessions. After a while, with encouragement from Jo I put myself forward for the over-60s men’s team (Strays don’t have a women’s team just yet), and eventually became part of the matchday squad playing in the Northern Premier League.

Manager Bernie then referred me to the WFA North Women’s 60s squad. I joined them in late 2024 and was selected for the final round of the WFA Women’s Super League the following March. Playing alongside several England internationals, I was honoured to help the team secure the league title and even scored a goal on my debut.

Later the same year, thanks to another referral, I was invited to trial for the IWFF England Women’s 60s team. Politics between organisations meant I had to step away from WFA North, which was tough, but at 65 I knew this might be my only chance to represent my country.

Trials were held in Lincoln, and despite an upcoming operation, I accepted a place in the squad for the World Championships in Sweden. The tournament, held at FC Rosengård in Malmö, featured 64 teams from 12 nations. We reached the final and beat a strong Norway side 2–1 to win the IWFF Ladies 60’s World Title. Becoming a world champion at 65 still feels surreal.

Walking football has given me a new lease of life,

a renewed sense of ambition, and a team spirit I thought I’d lost forever. I feel alive again, I’m just hoping those creaking knees will keep going a little longer. If you’re wondering whether to give it a try, I’d say “go for it, you’ve nothing to lose and so much to gain” (oh, and it helps to keep the pounds off the waistline too!).

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