As Sarina Wiegman's England squad ramp up their preparations for the upcoming Women's World Cup, there's one Lioness whose focus is firmly fixed on a different summer tournament.
Annie Booth, 55, last year made history by becoming the first woman to be selected for the newly-formed England Parkinson's Walking Football Team. And now, less than 12 months on, the Stockport-native has managed to assemble the Parkinson's Pioneers; the first ever walking football team catering exclusively to women living with the condition.
"There’s 12 women that I’ve gathered together living with Parkinson's and we’ve got our first training game and tournament in June," Booth told Mirror Football. "It’s something new for our community and I’m really proud of that because I might have been the first Parkinsons Lioness but I won’t be the last."
Booth's assertion is very much reflective of her tenacious attitude and unflinchingly positive outlook on life. The mum-of-two lost her dad to Parkinson's in 2013 before being diagnosed with the condition herself just two years later - a revelation which left her completely blindsided.
"When I was diagnosed it was quite a shock, not just to myself but my family too," Booth said. "I was 47 at the time with two children who were just leaving school so I wasn’t expecting it at all.
"I didn’t share my diagnosis with many people at first - especially my closest family because we were still mourning my dad and I didn’t want to cause them any more grief. I kept it quiet for a couple of years until I was ready to accept that this was the new version of me."
After coming to terms with her diagnois, Booth began to look for ways in which she could optimise both her physical and mental health. It was at this juncture she discovered Northern Lights, a Liverpool-based Parkinson's support group, and made her first foray into the world of football.
"I started to look forward to a life that was possible. A life with possibility rather than a life of negativity," Booth said. "Some people from Northern Lights were ex -Marine AFC players so they started a walking football team and they just asked me to come along one day. I'd never played football before but I just thought ‘I’ll say yes and see what happens’.
"I went along and nearly got sent off in my first match for running rather than walking but I just really enjoyed it. I loved being part of a team again and the people I was playing with were likeminded and all really wanted to live well with the condition and so I decided to give it another go."
Booth's decision to stick at it proved a shrewd one as, in July 2022, she was chosen to be part of the inaugural Parkinson's Walking Football team. The squad, who meet every couple of months for training sessions with professional coaches and physiotherapists, have so far competed in tournaments all around the world, and triumphed at the Walking Football Games in Singapore earlier this year.
"I laughed when my coach told me he’d put me forward for trials and I went along with no inhibitions and no real ambition to get selected," Booth said. "I just thought it would be a great experience but somehow - with a tiny bit of talent and a lot of guts and determination - I got selected.
"Since then it’s been a real journey of discovery for me. I’m the only girl on the team but for me the gender thing is not important. The people I play with are talented footballers who just happen to have Parkinson's.
"They are very skilful, really positive and funny and they never make me feel different. Miraculously, I don’t know how it’s happened, but I’ve fallen in love with the game."
Booth's resilience in the face of adversity and work as a trailblazer in women's football saw her nominated to be part of the We See You Network (WSYN). Founded by Three UK in partnership with Chelsea, the WSYN aims to help positively impact women who are involved in all aspects of football, with Booth among a select group to have been afforded the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and train with the Chelsea Women’s Coaches and players.
While the feat speaks volumes about Booth's inspirational work within the Parkinson's community and beyond, the 55-year-old is reluctant to dwell on what she has achieved so far.
"I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved but equally I’m incredibly proud of what my teammates achieve every time we get out of bed in the morning. When you live alongside people like that, it’s hard not to give back.
"The support I’ve received as a player has been incredible and has really helped me to feel a part of something again. When you have a condition like Parkinson's you feel like it takes a lot away from you and like all of the sunshine has gone out of your brain so to be given something back - like the gift of sport and football - is a tremendous feeling."
Annie Booth was nominated for the WeSeeYou Network, set up by Three UK and Chelsea FC to recognise and celebrate all women in sport. You can read more about it here.
