Player Story: Julie Norris

Julie Norris of Parkinson's Pioneers, Stokesley Walking Football Club and the North East Regional side (amongst other teams!) shares her journey from leaving teaching due to Parkinson's to the support she has received from the walking football community. Now a player and a coach, Julie tells WF4W about the new sense of purpose walking football has given her.

Julie Norris of Parkinson's England

Friday 17th May 2024 was the day Parkinson’s took teaching away from me! I was exhausted but knew that I needed to find things to occupy my time or I would go ‘bonkers’.

After joining a table tennis group, I saw a newsletter that had other activities in our local are and one of them was over 50s able-bodied walking football. I have always LOVED football and played it on the playing fields, with the lads, when I was younger because, ‘girls didn’t play football’.

In October 2024, I contacted Janette of Stokesley WFC, who had set up the group, and she encouraged me to go along and give it a try. The other members didn’t see my Parkinson’s; they saw that I could kick a ball and play just as hard as they did. She then encouraged me to train with the Parkinson’s Pioneers (The first and only, all women’s, Parkinson’s walking football team in the world.) in Solihull.

Here I am, just 2 years later and I play for 2 Parkinson’s teams, 1 able-bodied team. Not only that, but I also have the privilege to play Parkinson’s England Women’s Walking Football team. In September, I will be travelling to Toronto, Canada, to play local teams and raise awareness of the benefits of walking football for those who live with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions. I’m so lucky to have Stokesley WFC supporting me, helping to raise funds to get me there.

Mentally and physically, I am in a stronger place that 2 years ago, I feel part of a community/family every time I play. I also have been given the opportunity to work with and coach other people with neurological conditions through Janette. We work as a team, her skills and knowledge and my experience as a person who lives with an incurable neurological condition. I’m also still able to use my sports skills and experience as a teacher when coaching the North East over 40s alongside Janette.

Walking football has given me fitness, friendships but most of all a sense of purpose again. I still have a lot to learn as a coach, but I also still have a lot to give. I would love to see more women’s teams popping up in the North East and watching them grow in skills and confidence. I would also love to see them have access to top quality facilities, coaching and opportunities to play at the highest level they can. Most of all I want to see women doing what they love, learning something new but most of all, having fun!!

Find out about Julie's teams by clicking on the club badges: