By Mark Seymour
12th October 2025 marked a proud and long-awaited milestone, as the newly-formed Haverfordwest County Walking Football Ladies team stepped onto the pitch for their first-ever league competition day.
The team is coached by Leanne Jones, who also leads Haverfordwest County’s girls under-13s, and she played a pivotal role on the pitch throughout the day. The side was captained by Marie Tilley, who brought valuable experience to the squad, having represented Wales at both the Walking Football World Cup and the Homeless World Cup this year.
In a packed schedule of four fixtures, the team delivered a flawless set of results:
1–0 vs Llangennech Reds (Goal: Leanne Jones)
2–0 vs Cwmbran Celtic Blues (Goals: Jo Battelley, Laura Williams)
2–0 vs Fleur De Lys Blacks (Goals: Laura Williams, Jan Manning)
3–0 vs CKSV (Goals: Laura Williams, Jo Battelley, Siobhan Lewis)
Leanne’s goal in the opening match marked the team’s first-ever competitive league goal — a fitting milestone for the player-coach who worked tirelessly to build the team from scratch.
With several Welsh internationals in the squad, the team brought experience and a competitive edge — but it was their camaraderie and collective drive that truly stood out. Every player pushed the next, and the unity on display was as impressive as the results.
The team showed a high level of composure, movement, and tactical awareness throughout the day — setting a strong benchmark for their first competitive outing. With four wins from four and no goals conceded, they now sit joint-top of League One — a promising start to the season.
The team debuted in shirts matching the current Haverfordwest County first team squad, reinforcing the connection between walking football and the wider club. There was a clear sense of pride in representing Haverfordwest County throughout the day.
The day also saw valuable support from Paul Williams, chairman of Haverfordwest County Walking Football Club, who acted as ‘on-the-day manager’ to help ensure everything ran smoothly. His presence and hands-on involvement reflected the club’s commitment to growing the women’s game and supporting walking football at every level.
This was just the first day of competitive action for the Haverfordwest County Walking Football Ladies. With multiple divisions to work through and strong sides across the league, the path ahead will be challenging — but after such a confident debut, the team has shown they’re more than ready to take on whatever comes next.
