“Just go for it!”
That’s the message for anyone considering competing in this year’s FA People’s Cup from Carol Bates, co-founder of the Crawley Old Girls.
The Sussex-based side have entered the competition – England’s biggest small-sided football competition – for the last two years in the women’s senior category.
And with entry to the People’s Cup free for all teams, she believes it’s something everyone should consider after admitting football has changed her life since starting up in 2015.
"We do have women from all walks of life, sizes, shapes, different ages and we're all getting healthy, fit and having a social life and fun,” said Bates, who joined some of her COGs team-mates to help film an advert for the 2018 edition.
"If you get the chance to play, whether you're an experienced player or not, we would say just go for it.
"We do try to win some games but we go there to enjoy it and we have fun.”
COGs team-mate Pauline Maddocks concurs with her friend, adding: "I started playing football two and a half years ago and it's been the best thing ever.
"She [Carol] started with ten people, and two and a half years later, we've now got three sessions running with about 70 people involved.
"I've been to two FA People's Cups and had the best time, so just go out there and do it.”
It’s a simple process to register your team too. Simply search for your nearest FA People’s Cup event and then take it from there to enter!
After the first round, teams who progress will head into the semi-finals across the weekend of Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 March 2018.
And the titles will be dished out at St. George’s Park during the grand Finals on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April 2018.
