MK Dons get set to make football fun for women

Fixed Point Media A woman with long straight blonde hair wearing a dark tracksuit throwing a yellow football in the air with her right hand. She is standing in MK Dons' stadium and the letters "MK" can be seen in a stand behind her. Fixed Point Media
MK Dons want women to get on the ball with Sophie Radburn

League Two Milton Keynes Dons are going on the attack in a bid to make football fun for women.

Sophie Radburn, the new women's recreational football officer at MK Dons Sport and Education Trust, is not specifically trying to sign women up to play professionally.

The 22-year-old simply plans sessions where women of all ages and abilities can be active and have fun playing the sport.

"It's still a men's sport, that's how society sees it," she explained.

"Not so much as it used to be but I think there is still a stigma around it."

A walking football session is already up and running and Radburn said the oldest participant was 80 years old.

"We want to get more women and girls involved in football in Milton Keynes from 16-plus," said Radburn, who grew up in Caldecote, Cambridgeshire, and is a life-long Aston Villa fan.

"Whether that's playing it or coaching or refereeing. I'm reaching out to different areas in Milton Keynes"

Fixed Point Media A woman with long, straight blonde hair and wearing a black tracksuit sitting in a dug-out at the MK Dons ground. She holding a yellow football on her knee. Empty red-and-grey seats are around her.Fixed Point Media
Sophie Radburn grew up near Cambridge and is an Aston Villa fan

"I think it's so important to help create more opportunities for girls and women to get involved," said Radburn, who has a degree in sports coaching from the University of Northampton.

"Boys of a young age - I think they feel more confident to go into a park and have a kickaround."

MK Dons SET A pink and white poster advertising "women's walking football".  The poster contains insets of three images: a woman wearing glasses laughing, the heads of two women, a player's blue football boots.MK Dons SET
A walking football session is already up and running in Milton Keynes

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