When Catherine Emms and her friends entered a recent FA Mars Just Play competition by registering on The FA event system and playing at their local Just Play centre in Staffordshire, they never thought they’d end up at Wembley.
Regular participants at Just Play, the group of ‘soccer mums’ were blown away when Catherine got an email saying she had won a once in a lifetime experience for her and her friends to bring their usual session to St. George’s Park.
At first, Catherine admits she thought it couldn’t be real but when Ben Grady, an FA regional project manager, rang her to confirm the prize, Catherine’s first response was: ‘I never win anything’ and ‘Will I really get to meet Lucy Bronze?’
Once they were at the national football centre, they were able to put their skills to the test on the world class facilities of the David Beckham Pitch where they acknowledged the surface was a little different than the local park where they usually play.
After being put through their paces, they had time to sit back and relax and take in the Lionesses squad in training, and looking to pick up some tips for their own Just Play sessions.
They got to meet the players, including Catherine’s idol Lucy Bronze, and England Women’s manager Phil Neville took the time to pop over to talk to the group – and even steal some chocolate.
But the surprises weren’t over yet, as England striker Nikita Parris popped over to gave them all tickets for the sold-out game with Germany at Wembley a few days later.
What a prize!
Ready to find out more about Just Play? Just Play is for anyone who wants a game of football without the fuss. Casual, inclusive, informal fun. If you fancy a game. Just say. Just Play.
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