NewsMarie Höbinger and Faye Kirby surprise LFC Foundation walking footballers at Melwood
Liverpool FC Women players Marie Höbinger and Faye Kirby joined one of LFC Foundation’s women’s walking football sessions recently, to help celebrate the programme’s success both on and off the pitch.
The Reds duo surprised participants in the session – which occurs every week at the AXA Melwood Training Centre – by welcoming the players and taking part in a series of drills alongside the group.
The visit provided an opportunity for Höbinger and Kirby to hear first-hand about the positive impact the walking football programme has had, with a range of ages, backgrounds and abilities coming together to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
Delivered by LFC Foundation’s Red Neighbours team, the women’s walking football sessions provide a fun and inclusive way for participants to stay active, improve fitness, reduce social isolation and help build social connections as part of a supportive community.
“Sessions like this just show how much LFC Foundation brings the community together and helps people to make new friends and enjoy themselves, in this case through the love of football,” said Kirby.
“With the group all being women playing football themselves, it’s great for us to see where football has grown to now, especially for girls and women. And so to see them enjoy themselves so much and have smiles on their faces is amazing.”
Höbinger added: “For us it’s really good to see what is happening away from the football and what amazing work the club and the Foundation does, as we don’t see that day to day when we focus on football.
“This is a huge part of Liverpool Football Club and it’s amazing for us to get involved and come and see it for ourselves.”
The visit also marked the continuation of the commitment between LFC Women and LFC Foundation, with the Foundation logo set to feature once again on the back of the team’s shirts throughout the 2026-27 season, beginning with this weekend’s opener away to Charlton Athletic.
Before leaving the group for their final match of the session, Kirby presented them with their league trophy following their triumph in July.
The team were crowned champions of a trial league format that helped pave the way for the city’s first dedicated women’s walking football league, which officially gets under way later this month.