Olivia:
Women's Tackle Football
& University Football
Cambridgeshire, UK
"Being offered this amazing grant has now allowed me to upgrade my gear without the worrying factor of cost. As a university student, it’s often hard to balance the finances of this sport as well as uni life.
Also, being from the U.K., a lot of gear is harder to come by due to the demand and supply of it all. Being offered this has now allowed me to continue on my adult and university career in football without worrying where the next spend will come from.
This allows me to not stress about it all and enjoy the sport. I’m forever grateful that I have had the opportunity to be blessed by this."
Keep Olivia in the Game: Her Story, in Her Words
"I only started playing and learning the game in January 2024. I had faced hardship with another sport I had played for years and was losing my drive in that sport. I was talking to a few of my friends on my uni team, and they set me up to join them towards the end of the uni season. The sport has always intrigued me, as it’s something that I wasn’t familiar with but wanted to understand.
At the moment, I’m battling as a woman on an open uni team. I’m one of two females, and I’m currently fighting to show the coach that despite being a rookie, I know what I’m doing, and I can do it better than the boys. I’m fighting to be moved out of 4th-string RB and be put in for more reps. I know the majority of teams we face are all men, but I can do it. It’s a challenge and a half, especially coming out of back-to-back injuries during the preseason. I may be a woman, but I can hit and run just as well as the men.
I think my favourite moment and one that’s made me stay was when I joined my women’s team, the Peterborough Royals. At my very first full-contact session and my first session with them, I was asked to play in their next upcoming match 2 weeks away, after our O vs. D scrimmage. I remember being called a "powerhouse" and being told I would be a threat and a force to be reckoned with.
Football got me out of a rough spot. I was constantly having a battle in my head about my other sports and my value as a captain in that sport. Coming to join the boys and eventually the Royals at football helped release all that pressure and negativity and helped me just become free. When I’m with both teams, I’m a lot more confident and happier. Football helped me gain my confidence back."
Post Award Updates:
Because of receiving her Keep Her in the Game Grant Award, Olivia was able to join two other teams, on top of the two she already plays for. She joined a mixed adult team, Cambridgeshire Cats, who are in the Premiership South Division. She is currently the only girl on that team.
Olivia is also now part of the Great Britain Lions Women’s contact team practice squad. This prestigious team won a Silver medal at the ‘23/’24 European Championship and a Silver medal at the 2022 IFAF Women’s World Championship in Vantaa, Finland.
