‘Last goal wins’: re/engaging women of a ‘forgotten’ age through football?

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the physical activity experiences of a group of women based in England, and who are over the age of 30. This particular age group represent a ‘forgotten’ age, that is, they are largely ignored in academic scholarship, policy and physical activity provision. The paper explores how this group of women ‘re/engaged’ in physical activity after a sustained period of inactivity. The study is situated in a weekly football initiative (Monday Night Footy) based in the north of England, managed and organised by a group of women for women to train and play five-a-side football. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews and the use of photo-biographical boards with 11 women, all of whom are regular participants to the football sessions. We use a middle ground feminist lens and Archer's notion of ‘fr/agility’ to help make sense of the women's experiences. From these women's stories three key findings emerge: (a) Biographies of (in)activity – the ways in which relationships with physical activity can be characterised by fractures and fissures despite seemingly positive early physical activity experiences; (b) Pathways of re/engagement – the motives and enablers to these women once again participating in physical activity after a sustained absence; and (c) Monday Night Footy as a space for re/engagement – the ways in which this context contributes to these women's continued involvement in football and broader physical activity. The paper concludes by offering policy makers and physical activity providers with some recommendations alongside considerations for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Women
• aging
• gender
• physical activity
• football
• re/engagement

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Annette Stride http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7549-8347

Notes

1 Five-a-side is a small sided version of the 11 a side game with four outfield players and a goalkeeper. The game is played on a smaller pitch with smaller goals, and typically takes place on artificial grass in an enclosed space that prevents the ball from leaving the playing area and keeps the game flowing.

2 Taken from The Football Association's ‘The Gameplan for Growth’ – the 2017–2020 strategy for women's and girls’ football.

3 We do acknowledge the efforts by some of the regional County Football Associations to attract women over the age of 30 to the game through ‘veterans’ leagues. However, these are not consistently offered around the country.

4 Pic Collage is a photo app that enables users to create collages from their digital images.

5 Walking Football is a variation of regular Association Football. Aimed at the over 50's, the game has been adapted in a number of ways in consideration of the participants’ age. For example, a different set of rules apply including an outlawing of all running, minimal physical contact between players, over-head height restrictions and indirect free kicks. Teams are either 5 or 6-a-side, with games typically played on artificial grass pitches. The game has been developed to either enable those who have played the sport previously to continue playing or to safely start playing again, or to introduce the sport to people who have never played before (see www.thewfa.co.uk).