You’re like a kid again when you’re on the pitch with your pals kicking a ball.

WF4W caught up with Anne Smith and Joan Masterton of Jeanfield Swifts to talk walking football, a Scotland call up and their upcoming Playcation in The Algarve.

WF4W: How did you both get into walking football?

Anne: I was a child of the 70s, wanted to play football, played with the boys, ended up not getting to play for the primary school team because girls weren't allowed. I've never played formal 11-a-side. It wasn't until walking football came along. In my case, that's probably getting on for nine years ago now at St Johnstone, our local team here. I went to the first session with my friend and thought, this is amazing. I'm getting to play the sport that I love and the rest is history.

Joan: I had a bad accident 13 years ago. My recuperation involved physio, walking in water, swimming, then gym work for aerobic exercise. I really dislike the gym and was so pleased to see an advert for local women’s walking football. And that’s where I met Anne. I hadn’t kicked a ball since playing 11’s and 5’s for a short while in my 20’s.

WF4W: Tell us about Jeanfield Swifts

Anne: Jeanfield Swifts are a junior club in Perth. They've been great for us. We're attached to their community club. And that's why we're called Jeanfield Swifts. 

Joan: In the women's section, they've got the girls, they've got the senior team, they've got recreational team, and then us. So it's a great pathway for girls now.

Anne: We’ve grown it over the years…it's peaked and then troughed, as it does throughout the year, because we train outdoors in the winter and the weather can be pretty bad up here! I think there's 20 registered players. For a town our size, that's not too bad and they're a great group.

They are an enthusiastic and dedicated group. Football's second in a lot of respects. It's about the community of women, the support we give each other, the laughs we have and the memories we make together. We’ve got all levels from Joan, who is now representing Scotland, down to a girl who's never kicked a ball. We’re about, fun, fitness and friendship first and foremost. We've gone to a lot of events abroad, and it's the memories you create going as a group on and off the pitch.

Joan: Anne and I were at our Christmas party one year, looked down the table at the 39 women there and took a minute to acknowledge the many benefits walking football had brought us all. Social life's going through the roof, happier, healthier & fitter. And also, a group of women far less likely to be a burden on the NHS.

WF4W: What is Playcation?

Joan: We asked Gary, who runs the EuroCopa tournament, one of the biggest and professionally organised competitive walking football events, if he was interested in another project. We said we've got this idea and we think women would like it. We said, if you organise it Gary, we will try and push it here in the UK. We're under no financial incentive to do so, we just believe in the concept. A festival, run with the same professionalism as the Eurocopa i.e. refs, ambulance, great hotel, transfers to/from the airport and local assistance as required. And Gary agreed! He called it the Playcation. You just turn up as an individual and you're allocated into a random team each morning. There’s much less focus on winning and it's going to be really inclusive. For women that are normally in a first team, women that never get into a team, women that can't afford a footy holiday in addition to a family/partner holiday, it will suit them all. Women can take a non-playing partner, whether child, parent, partner or pal. The whole idea is to remove any barriers women may have to enjoying a footie holiday in the sun with mates new & old. It’s running from the 8th to the 13th of June with people travelling out on the Monday. We've got football 4 mornings and there’ll be opportunities to play other sports including paddle and pickleball. But players can do what they like in the afternoons & evenings, and can spend as much or little time with the other players as they wish.

WF4W - What benefits have you seen for yourself and others playing Walking football?

Anne:  We talk about just having the joy of playing football. I play 3 mixed sessions each week since I retired as well as training with my Jeanfield Swifts WWF team. When you boil it down, you probably get as much enjoyment doing that as winning any competition. It's like you're 9 year old again! Sheer joy!

Joan: Yeah, you don’t feel your age, you’re like a kid again when you’re on the pitch with your pals kicking a ball.

Anne: It takes you back. The stress of the family, work, whatever. You forget about that for an hour. You exercise well; you get a great workout.

Joan: The health benefits are phenomenal and that's physical health and mental health. 

WF4W: What dreams do you have for the future of walking football?

Anne: I think in terms of our team, we probably want to continue to grow it and play more games, because we only play four times a year in the league. I think down south you seem to have more competitive games. I think we'd like to build the festival (Playcation), play more friendlies, play more football.

Joan: Yeah, that'd be nice if everybody wants to come to Perth for friendlies. It's a lovely bit of the world!

Anne:  I’m hoping there will be more over 60 categories at all walking football events. 

Joan: The dream would be more teams in Scotland and getting the word out. If you look at a map, you can see Perth is the most northerly women's walking football team. That's such a shame.

To find out more about Anne and Joan's club click on the club badge.

If you want to find out more about Playcation email Gary info@algarvefootballtours.com