Gemma Darvill, coach of the first England women's Parkinson's team, is leading her squad on a journey to Toronto to highlight the benefits of walking football for individuals with Parkinson's disease. Darvill's personal connection to the sport stems from her father, Les, whose Parkinson's diagnosis at 58 led him to walking football, a game she credits with saving his life.
The England women's team, with players aged between 36 and 66, will join the England men's Parkinson's team for a week-long trip to Canada. This international showcase will feature invitational friendlies against two American women's walking football teams, an over-40s and an over-60s side, as well as some men's teams. The initiative also includes a Parkinson's fundraising day where the teams will run coaching drills.
Darvill's involvement began after supporting her father, which led her to coach the Parkinson's Pioneers, a walking football team for women with Parkinson's that has seen a tenfold increase in membership over three years. This success paved the way for her appointment as coach of the national side. The team has been crowdfunding for the trip, raising over £17,000 for both the men's and women's sides.
Walking football, which prohibits running, offside, heading, and throw-ins, is a non-contact sport with specific tackling rules. Darvill notes that the walking element helps ensure safety for players with varying levels of Parkinson's. The Walking Football Association (WFA) and the Football Association recently partnered, with the FA becoming walking football's governing body in England, a move Darvill sees as positive for the sport's future.