At the heart of any great community football club are the people who dedicate their time to making sure everyone has a place to play—and Jo is the perfect example.

As the lead volunteer behind our weekly Women’s Just Play sessions, Jo has watched a casual grassroots initiative transform into a vital social hub for women across the area.
“Half the time, we spend as much energy talking and laughing as we do actually kicking the ball,” smiles Jo.

We sat down with her to chat about welcoming newcomers, post-match socials, and why this relaxed kickabout means so much to everyone involved.

Q: How long have you been leading the Women’s Just Play sessions, and what made you step up?
Jo: „I’ve been leading the sessions for about seven months now, and I absolutely love it! I’d actually been a member myself for a couple of years beforehand, playing alongside the original group who started right at the beginning. Because of that, I knew first hand just how much these sessions mean to everyone. When the opportunity came up, I simply wanted to step up and ensure the sessions kept running so everyone could keep enjoying them.”

Q:For someone who has never been before, what can they expect from a typical session?
Jo: ”We always start by meeting up, having a quick catch-up, and greeting any new faces so we can learn everyone’s names. After that, we ease in with a light warm-up and stretches. To break the ice, we’ll often play quick, fun games like bib tag or dribbling tag. Once everyone is warmed up and laughing, we jump straight into a casual mini-game!”

Q: Do players need prior experience or fixed positions on the pitch?
Jo: ”Not at all! It really doesn’t matter if you’ve never kicked a football before in your life. Players can choose to try out a specific position, take a turn in goal, or just roam wherever they like.

Just Play doesn't have the rigid rules of a standard football match—that’s why it’s so chilled out and always a good laugh. You can take a drink break or rest whenever you need to, moving completely at your own pace”.

Q: What’s the atmosphere like off the pitch?
Jo: ”It’s super relaxed, fun, and friendly. It’s a fantastic way to make new friends while enjoying a low-pressure workout. Honestly, one of the best parts is the friendships that have grown out of it—a lot of us regularly get together for socials outside of football!
If you’re thinking of joining, you’ll be warmly welcomed. Everyone is dedicated to making sure you feel completely at ease from the second you arrive”.

Q: What if a player wants to take their football a bit further down the line?
Jo: ”We always let new players know that our club also has a Development Team and a First Team if they ever fancy making the leap into competitive matchplay. I’ve seen several of our Just Play members move up into team football, and they’ve never looked back!
I actually joined the Development Team for a year myself before stepping back to Just Play for health reasons. It was a brilliant experience, and it's great that our club offers that pathway if people want it”.

Q: What would you say to someone who is currently sitting on the fence about coming down?
Jo: ”To anyone thinking, "I’d like to give football a go, but I’m just not sure"—just come down and spend an hour with us to see how you feel afterwards. I’m almost certain we’ll be seeing you back for a second session!”

Ready to Give It a Go?
Whether you're looking to dust off old skills, try a completely new sport, or simply meet a friendly group of local women, our Women's Just Play sessions are open to all fitness levels and abilities.

• What to bring: Comfortable activewear, a water bottle, and a sense of fun!
• How to join: you can book via the England Football Events Platform or drop us a message to let us know you're coming. We can't wait to meet you!