NewsLFC Foundation's women's walking football team celebrate anniversary with Melwood visit

The Reds' official charity's first women's walking football team was set up in 2022 and has gone from strength to strength. So to celebrate their second anniversary, the team were invited to Melwood to meet the LFC Women squad.

The ladies were invited for breakfast prior to meeting the squad and got autographs and photos before heading out to training, where the team were able to watch the start of the session laid on by Matt Beard. They later headed back upstairs to enjoy a birthday lunch.

The programme aims to tackle social isolation and get people more physically active and help to build friendships. The ladies who take part come from all walks of life and have overcome a range of challenges – including strokes, brain injuries and domestic abuse.

The women's walking football sessions take place weekly in Kirkby and are supported by official LFC partner Coca-Cola and delivered by LFC Foundation's Red Neighbours team.

Jennifer Dargan, senior co-ordinator at LFC Foundation, said: "It's brilliant to be able to bring the ladies to Melwood to celebrate their achievements. They have grown so much in these last two years – not only in numbers but in their abilities – and have gone from strength to strength.

"Some of these ladies have been through so much adversity and they deserve this opportunity, and we are thrilled we have been able to bring them here and the players were fantastic and so welcoming. It's certainly a day they will remember for a long time."

Steph Leese, a member of the walking football team, added: "It's been an absolutely amazing opportunity to come to Melwood to meet the women's first team. It's been a fantastic experience from start to finish. It was amazing to meet them after watching them at Anfield on Sunday and it's just an experience that money can't buy.

"It was such an amazing day and I can't put into words how much it means to me to be at Melwood, meet the team and have a day beyond my wildest dreams."

LFC Foundation's Red Neighbours community programme was set up in 2016 and aims to make a difference for people who live in and around the Anfield, Melwood and Kirkby areas.

It covers vital work around food poverty and education, social isolation, creating a physically active community, and creating memorable experiences for young people.