While the growth of women’s grassroots football is often measured in numbers, in Berkshire, it can be measured in generations. The idea that grassroots football is mainly for younger girls is a common misconception, and it is often celebrated as a space for youth development. Here in Berkshire, a deeper story is unfolding, one that keeps women in their twenties, thirties, forties, and beyond, coming back to the pitch.
“I’m seeing it [women continuing to play later into their lives] more often now,” Tanya Davis-Hussain, Head of Maidenhead United Women FC, told Football in Berkshire. Women are now playing for longer, and the grassroots game is evolving alongside them. A prime example of this is the rise of walking football, encouraging participation in later life and serving as a great alternative to the physical demands of traditional 11-a-side.
“I’ve seen the ages range from 35 to 60, and it allows women to stay involved when they find that playing 11-a-side is too much,” Tanya explained. “Then there is also the social side… it’s really important for mental health as well as physical health to be able to offer that to women that are a bit older.”
Grassroots football is not just helping women stay in the game, however. For some, it proves to be something even more significant: a second chance.
Jessie Bhangoo, 49, shared how both her age and South-Asian background prevented her from participating regularly throughout her childhood. “Football wasn’t really supported for women in the 80s, and culturally it wasn’t accepted over education.” Jessie returned to the sport in her adult life, having played in a mixed-gender league before joining a women’s Sunday league. She is now a regular participant in Reading’s Five-a-side Women’s League, crediting her love for the game and the camaraderie of team sport as the reasons that keep her coming back. Organised by Play 5-a-side, this local league is held at South Reading Leisure Centre and is just one of many trusted football leagues for women over 18 across the UK. If you are a player wanting to get back into football, or even a complete beginner, register on their website to become a part of the community!
Football is more than just a sport to the women of Berkshire, it is a space of community, confidence, and long-term belonging. Women are reclaiming football at all stages of life, and grassroots is where that becomes possible.
