Thatcham Tornadoes Lionesses play charity football match — with a twist

Parents of the Thatcham Tornadoes Lionesses Under 12s and 13s took part in a charity football match at the weekend.

After an away game at Sandhurst on Saturday morning (October 12), more than 30 parents — watched by their children — played 11-a-side football at Woolhampton Cricket and Football Club in Douai Park, Upper Woolhampton.

It cost a few bruises and heavy legs, but the event was a success, raising £825.

Head Coach Matthew Winch organised and played in the match, and confirmed talks are already underway to make it an annual tradition.

Reflecting on the event, he said: “It was a really good day and it taught the parents a lot that they shouldn't be shouting at their kids when they're tired, because it's really quite hard.

“And I think the girls definitely learned that coaching is not that easy, because they were struggling with the numbers and were feeling bad when they were substituting people.”

Many parents hadn’t set foot on a pitch in years, and some had never played at all.

Mr Winch said it took some convincing to get the parents involved, but that he has since received several emails from parents interested in joining adult teams.

"I learned quite a bit,” he added. “It was really nice to be back on the pitch.

"It took a few mums to say why not, and then it grew.”

The funds raised will be split between Cancer Research UK and Breakthrough T1D, an organisation funding research into Type 1 Diabetes.

The charities were chosen by Mr Winch, whose 11-year-old daughter has Type 1 Diabetes, and assistant coach Josie Price, whose father died from cancer.