Palace for Life women to be represented at first walking football international

A member of Palace for Life Foundation women’s walking football team has been selected to represent England in the first ever international fixture in the sport.

Juliet Mason first took part in walking football by attending weekly sessions with the Foundation a year ago and is now set to take on Wales at Merthyr Tydfil on Saturday 2nd November.

Juliet said: “I feel very lucky to have the opportunity of playing for England in the first ever walking football international at the age of 47! Never did I think that by attending the Palace Women’s recreational session about a year and half ago that I’d be in this position. I’m just so very grateful for the opportunity and hope I can control my nerves on the day so I can enjoy the experience!”

Juliet was part of the Palace squad who reached the finals of the FA Peoples Cup earlier this year, getting through to the quarter-finals in the event at St Georges Park in April.

After developing a passion for the sport, Juliet also attended an FA walking football referee course, commenting: “The course was brilliant and a great opportunity for us to meet all of the ladies from walking football teams all over the country. As an introduction to refereeing course it was just the right balance between understanding the specific rules for walking football in the room and then putting that into practice on the pitch.”

Palace for Life Foundation Community Sports Manager Roxanne Bennett commented: “We are all delighted for Juliet. The women’s walking football sessions have been a great success and for someone from our team to be in the England squad is just brilliant. We will all be following their progress with intrigue this weekend!”

Palace for Life Foundation runs weekly women’s walking football sessions at Monks Hill Sports Centre in Croydon, every Thursday from 7-8pm. For more information contact RoxanneBennett@palaceforlife.org