Looking forward to the Superbowl? The Valkyries want fans to take part on the pitch
ON Superbowl weekend, the only women’s American Football team in Wales are calling for more players to join them in their upcoming season.
The Valkyries need 18 players to commit to the season and with only 15 on the books they need more rookies to give it a go.
“I don’t feel that because I’m 42, I can’t have a go. It is just really inclusive,” said rookie Sian McCarthy at the training session.
The team are holding three rookie days in February, where they introduce new players to the game and run them through some of the basic plays.
“It is all about celebrating what your body can do, and your own personal skill set,” said Sara Pratt, the Cardiff Valkyries president.
“We need so many different types of people to fill defence and offence,” said Sophie Nicol, defensive line player for the Valkyries.
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The goal for the team this year is to move from the seven-a-side league to compete in the nine-a-side league.
Four rookies attended the first session, but the Valkyries are looking to expand their numbers further.
The team are all going to watch the upcoming Superbowl together at the Owain Glyndwr pub. Although there is no women’s Superbowl, they are just as excited to watch the big game.
Rookie Lianne Vokes is a big National Football League fan and the team came up on her Instagram She said that she was definitely coming back after her taster sessions to join the team full time.
“I think if you look around, we all turn up in the rain and the cold because we love it. We have injured players and mums who come to socialise and be around the team,” said Ms Pratt.
Many of the veterans joined without any experience playing American Football and Ms Pratt said that she had never watched it either.
Ms Nicol said that she joined the group because she did not enjoy going to the gym, but wanted to stay fit.
To make the sessions more accessible, players can hire the full kit for the entire season. The first three sessions are also free and covered by British American Football insurance.
The kit that you can hire during the season. Credit: Penallta Photographics
The Valkyries are currently part of the development league of the National Women’s Football League.
They have to travel up to six hours to compete in Kent, Norwich and Derby for game days. Ms Pratt said that the bus journeys, although long, were full of singing and dancing.
The team train from 10am to 1pm every Sunday in Moorland Park and meet in the Pavilion afterwards to have tea and coffee.
- If you would like to join the Valkyries, there is more information on their Facebook
