Watford Ladies Shine at the Middlesex Walking Football Festival!
What a day for the Golden Girls! This past weekend, Watford Walking Football Club took two squads to the second Middlesex Walking Football Festival, and to say we are proud would be an understatement.
Considering our ladies’ section only kicked off in April 2025, the progress shown on the pitch was nothing short of incredible. Here’s how the day unfolded for our two fantastic teams.
The Watford Hornets: The Unbeaten Streak
The Hornets put on a masterclass in resilience and tactical discipline. They finished the festival unbeaten, an achievement made even more impressive by the fact they only conceded a single goal all day—and that was against a very strong Cheshunt side.
The Results:
Draws: Cheshunt (1-1), Luton (0-0), Hampton (0-0)
Wins: Barnet (3-0), Wycombe Warriors (1-0), Uxbridge (5-0), Denham (1-0)
To navigate seven matches without a loss is a testament to the Hornets’ focus and fitness. Their defensive solidity provided the perfect platform for some clinical finishing at the other end.
A Dream Debut
One of the most heartwarming stories of the day was Mandy Lewis. Having never played competitive football in her life, Mandy joined our sessions just two weeks ago. Like many women of her generation, she grew up wanting to play but never had the opportunity beyond kicking a ball around the back garden.
Despite being thrown straight into the deep end with the Hornets, Mandy landed on her feet and performed absolutely brilliantly. Her love for the game is infectious, and her performance proves that it’s never too late to pull on the boots and represent your club!
The Watford Ballers: Heart, Hustle, and Smiles
If the Hornets were about clinical results, the Ballers were the embodiment of team spirit. They gelled brilliantly, playing every minute with a positive attitude and huge smiles on their faces.
They proved they could go toe-to-toe with the best, holding the formidable Hampton team to a 0-0 draw. The highlight of their day was a dominant 5-0 victory over Uxbridge, with Claire H (2), Kerry O (2), and Babs (1) all finding the back of the net.
Player Spotlight:
Manager Claire had some tough calls to make, but a few performances really stood out:
- Philippa: Brave and brilliant in goal. Even though she’s a “Gooner” (we won’t hold it against her today!), she was Manager Claire’s Player of the Day.
- Babs: A rock at the back who still managed to pop up and score a “corker.”
- Roops: Showed incredible grit, playing through the pain despite barely being able to walk!
- The Engine Room: Captain Clare was strong and decisive in defense, while Kezza O ran the opposition ragged. Kerry W gave a lesson in hold-up play, Courtney displayed excellent positioning, and Soph was everywhere, balancing attack and defense perfectly.
A Club on the Rise
It is truly remarkable to think that this journey only began a few months ago. To see both teams competing so fiercely—and successfully—against established clubs like Luton, Wycombe, and Cheshunt is a credit to the hard work put in during training.
5 goals scored and only 3 conceded for the Ballers, and an unbeaten run for the Hornets. Every single player should be incredibly proud of themselves. The future of ladies’ walking football at Watford is looking very bright indeed!
Come on you ‘Orns!
