THE NUMBERS of women taking part in team sports drops sharply once they reach their 30s, according to a major new survey.

Just seven per cent of women play team sports – with the average person quitting by the time they reach 21.

And the majority – seven out of 10 – believe it’s easier for their male counterparts to continue playing as they get older.

And while 47 per cent played team sports regularly up to the age of 25, the number participating falls dramatically into single figures with women in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

Pregnancy (44 per cent), issues relating to menstruation and menopause (44 per cent) and men having more groups to join (39 per cent) are cited as the reasons why.

Polling of 3,000 women who have played sports, one of the largest recent UK studies examining female participation in sport, found the biggest barrier to participating in team sports was busy schedules (36 per cent).

Work commitments (31 per cent) and family responsibilities (30 per cent) were other key reasons cited.

A quarter (25 per cent) blamed childcare needs, while almost one in five (19 per cent) said social anxiety held them back.

More than three-quarters of women (77 per cent) admitted there are weeks in which they struggle to fit in any exercise at all.

The research was commissioned by AXA UK as part of its ‘Keep on Kicking’ campaign, which highlights the challenges women face to pursue team sports at different life stages.

The campaign celebrates AXA’s sponsorship of this summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland, and the insurer is also supporting women to get involved in team sports at grass roots level with sponsorship of Women’s Walking Football across the UK.

The report highlights the reasons why women step away from team sports at different life stages and the challenges they face to re-engaging.

It also contains personal stories from former Liverpool FC and England player Tash Dowie, England Paralympic basketball player Amy Conroy and Antarctic explorer Cat Burford.

Steph Leese, who joined a Women’s Walking Football team in Liverpool sponsored by AXA UK last year, also featured, describing how the sport has transformed her physical and mental health.

Tara Foley, CEO of AXA UK & Ireland, said: “It is concerning that so few women over 18 are currently taking part in team sports and that many feel obstacles such as childcare, health concerns and social anxiety are holding them back. 

“Being part of a team, whether in business or on the sports field, helps to develop so many valuable skills, as well as building resilience and forging trusted relationships.

“We hope AXA’s sponsorship of this summer’s Women’s EURO and support for Women’s Walking Football will shine a light on the benefit of getting involved in a team sport, at whatever stage of life you are at, can bring.”

Tash Dowie, who retired from the professional game in 2023, said it was disappointing so few women in the UK were involved in team sport.

“Team sport has played such a huge role in my life and the benefits for mental and physical health can’t be under-estimated. It’s sad to see from this research that so few women feel able to play past their teens because other commitments or physical concerns get in the way.

“Providing opportunities for women to re-engage with team sports at whatever age, such as Women’s Walking Football, is a really positive step towards helping them stay healthy and enjoy the camaraderie that being part of a team brings.”

The research found women who exercise do so three times a week, including twice with others.

And of those who play team sport, 84 per cent wish they could find the time to play more frequently.

On average, just under 90 minutes is spent taking part in team sports per week – with football (61 per cent), basketball (35 per cent) and netball (32 per cent) the most popular team games.

The women polled said traditional gender roles meant team sport was aimed more at men than women (38 per cent) and issues such as childcare concerns (38 per cent) impacted women disproportionately.

There is a strong desire for women to stay fit, as 95 per cent said it was important for them to exercise in later life, the OnePoll research found.

And of those women polled who have children, 94 per cent said it was important to set a positive example to their children with regards to exercise.

Liverpool FC ambassador Tash Dowie said: “I did an event the other day at Anfield where there were lot of women who were probably 50 or 60 plus, playing walking football.

“Some had experienced cancer or strokes and this was almost like their second life.

“That was really nice to see because I was lucky that I was from a generation where I got the opportunity to be a professional football player.

“I think it’s really powerful and important that the older generation get that opportunity to have a go now and to still play the game.

“They tell me how important it is for them mentally as well, it’s saved a lot of people’s lives being able to play the game, socially in that environment of being around people.”  

AXA’s Tara Foley added: “In our own business, we provide support for colleagues at challenging times of their life such as when they’re going through the menopause or facing mental health issues.

“Being part of a supportive team can make a real difference to people’s lives and help them grow.

“As a health insurance provider, we know the long-term benefits of staying fit and healthy – both mentally and physically.

“Making time to take part in team sports can be a real game-changer, as many of those who’ve taken up Women’s Walking Football have discovered.”

Kaizer Chiefs are on a streak of announcing new signings, with Portuguese striker Flávio Silva the latest recruit announced.

A MAJOR boost for aspiring Irish homeowners is on the way as an affordable housing scheme portal is set to open in just weeks.

The online application portal for Affordable Purchase Apartments in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown will open at 12:00pm on Wednesday, July 23.

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An affordable housing Scheme portal is set to open in just weeks[/caption]

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Aspiring homeowners can get a newly built home in Dublin for a reduced price[/caption]

The scheme applies to Phase Two homes at Shanganagh Castle Estate, Co Dublin and it will close at 5pm on Wednesday, August 13.

Allowing people to buy newly built homes at a reduced price, it is aimed at buyers who need help bridging the gap between their mortgage and deposit to meet the full price of the home.

Purchasers will enter an Affordable Dwelling Purchase Agreement with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

They will receive funding in return for the Council taking an equity share – a percentage ownership of the property.

Buyers can choose to redeem this equity share at any time and there is no obligation to redeem it while they live in the home.

The price of the homes will be set by the council and it will be based on each applicant’s purchasing power.

Purchasing power is the total of maximum mortgage capacity which is four times their gross household income, a minimum deposit of 10 percent of the affordable price and any relevant savings.

And if purchasing power goes above 80 percent of the market value, the applicant is not eligible.

CRITERIA TO BE ELIGIBLE

To qualify, applicants must meet several criteria.

To start, they must be a first-time buyer, qualify under the Fresh Start Principle or own a home that is too small for their needs.

They must also have the legal right to reside in Ireland along with intending to live in the affordable home as their main residence.

Their purchasing power must not exceed 95 percent of the market value but there is an exception if these applicants cannot get a mortgage for that amount.

If applying with a partner, you must submit a joint application and those applying alone must show any other household members are financially dependent on you.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants must register first online at www.dlrcoco.ie before completing the application and uploading the required documents.

These applications will be processed on a first come first served basis and can be accepted only through the online portal.

Photo ID is needed and can include a passport, EU/EEA driving licence or an ID form stamped by the Gardaí.

Non-EU applicants must provide a valid Irish Residence Permit showing their permission type.

PAYE employees need a salary certificate and Employment Detail Summary while self-employed applicants must submit audited or certified accounts, tax balancing statements and payment receipts.

Unemployed applicants must provide a statement from the Department of Social Protection for the last 12 months.

Applicants must show they have maximised their mortgage capacity if their approval is less than four times their income and proof of savings is needed with three months of statements for all accounts.

First-time buyers must provide Help to Buy approval or a solicitor’s affidavit confirming they have never owned a property.

Those qualifying under the Fresh Start Principle must also show proof of separation, divorce, bankruptcy or insolvency.

Once all applications are assessed, the Council will contact applicants to confirm eligibility and whether they will receive an offer.

IRISH star Diane Cannon has opened up about getting a horrific diagnosis that most people “don’t survive”.

The country singer was preoccupied juggling her work schedule last year and ignored the stomach pain she was experiencing due to this.

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Diane is a country singer from Donegal[/caption]

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The Donegal native told RSVP Country. “I was traveling so much and I had to put too much pressure on myself.

“I was exhausted and I was getting gallbladder pain but I ignored it because I was busy at work.”

When Diane did manage to get her scheduled surgery done, she thought that she would “bounce back” immediately and attempted to get “back on the road” right away.

Sadly, this wasn’t the case for Diane as she explained: “I got rushed back in, and I’d already left it too late.

“The sepsis had already spread to my liver and kidneys and through my whole body. I was very lucky. Many people who get sepsis don’t survive.”

Diane’s career and busy life was then put on hold for the first time in years as a result.

She said: “It’s taken me months to recover. It’s frustrating because my brain still works the way it always did. I want to go at full tilt. But physically, I’m still recovering. I can’t do things at the same pace anymore.”

Diane is still waiting on her gallbladder to be removed and she hopes to be back on her feet by the end of the year.

She added: “You don’t really realise the severity of it at the time but when you look back – yes it is frustrating, but look I’m still here and I’m very lucky.”

Sepsis is a life-threatening complication of an infection that can hide behind any infection at any age, making it difficult to detect the illness and can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

Earlier this year Carl Mullan shared his story-time on his “run-in” with sepsis to spread awareness for the signs and symptoms.

A few years ago Carl got a “very simple” sore throat that progressively got “worse and worse” as the days went on.

He explained: “After a few days of it not going away, I went to the doctor and found out it was actually glandular fever. Glandular fever itself, it’s fairly common and there’s no actual cure for it, so you kind of just have to ride it out and take whatever the doctor prescribes for it.

‘AWFUL’

“After about three more days, and just to warn you, this is where this story gets a little bit disgusting. I was so run down, I was in so much pain, I was taking anti-inflammatory stuff, it was doing nothing for me.

“I was in a bad way. At this point, I took a look at the back of my throat. It was covered in white and yellow patches and it was just so raw and so painful and it was just… it was awful.”

Carl admitted that he “shouldn’t have let it” get to that point and when he did return to his doctor, he was immediately rushed off to A&E and was seen straight away.

The dad-of-three said: “I always remember the doctor audibly gasped when he saw the back of my throat. Because… it was in a bad way.

“They took some bloods, they put me on some pain medication and they gave me a load of antibiotics and I just waited for the bloods to come back.

“A couple of hours later, the doctor came back and sat me down and was like, ‘You’re really lucky you came into hospital when you did, you’re in the early stages of sepsis’.

“He basically told me that had I not come into hospital when I did, 12 hours, 18 hours later, I would have been arriving into hospital in the back of an ambulance.”

THOUSANDS more Irish people will qualify for a weekly social welfare payment worth up to €447 following a change to the eligibility rules.

And the major expansion of the weekly income disregard for the cash also means that 5,280 people across the country will receive an increase in their payment.

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The weekly income disregard for the Carer’s Allowance payment will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse or partner.

This means the first €625 of a single person’s weekly income and €900 of a couple’s weekly income will not be taken into account when applying for the means-tested payment.

The reform to the income disregard is expected to take effect from Thursday.

Cash income, capital and maintenance payments are all assessed by the Department of Social Protection as part of the means test.

However, the changes to the means test, which will take effect this week, means a person will still be able to qualify for the payment even if they are earning over €450 from other income each week.

And the move means that a whopping 99 per cent of people receiving Carer’s Allowance will now receive the maximum rate of payment.

Carer’s Allowance maximum weekly payment is €260 for a carer aged under 66 that is caring for one person, and €390 for a person aged under 66 that is caring for two or more people.

Carer’s aged 66 or over who are caring for one person can receive a maximum payment of €298 each week while those who are caring for two people or more and are aged under 66 can claim €447.

Fine Gael’s John Paul O’Shea, Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, confirmed this morning that 5,280 carers will receive an increase in their payment following the changes.

In addition to this, it is expected that many more carers will now qualify for the payment for the first time under the higher income limits.

Deputy O’Shea described the move announced in Budget 2025, as a “positive change”, but said the government “needs to go further”.

He said: “There have been significant changes to the Carers Allowance means test in recent years with the income disregard increased by €292.50 for a single person and €585 for a couple since 2022.

“It has been confirmed to me that the further increase in the income limits this week will mean that 99 per cent of people receiving Carer’s Allowance will now receive the maximum rate of payment.

“In addition, these changes will mean that many more carers who were previously outside the income limits will now qualify for a payment.

“Our carers play a vital role in our society and we need to support them. This is a welcome step, but we need to go further.

“The Programme for Government commits to phasing out the means test entirely during the lifetime of this Government.”

O’Shea called on Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary to build on the “strong work” in this area in recent years and outline a road map for phasing out the means test altogether.

Fianna Fail TD Erin McGreehan told how it is only right to recognise the “invaluable work” of carer’s across Ireland.

She said: “This is not the final step, but real progress towards Fianna Fáil’s commitment to abolish the means test for Carer’s Allowance.

“I look forward to working closely with the Minister to continue strengthening support for our careers in the future.”

Minister Calleary said: “The Programme for Government is ambitious for carers. Importantly, we will continue to significantly increase the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the government.”

LIVERPOOL have placed a £50million price tag on young attacker Harvey Elliot amid interest from Champions League rivals across Europe.

The 22-year old is attracting suitors after his heroic performances for England helped them defend their U21 Euros title last week.

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Harvey Elliott’s future hangs in the balance after a season on the periphery in Liverpool[/caption]

A deal worth £40m would be enough to seal the deal – provided Arne Slot’s Liverpool retained a buy-back clause, reports The Athletic.

The fee without such a buy-back option would have to exceed £50m to convince the Reds to sell.

Liverpool’s recent £30m sale of Jarrell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen is viewed as a point of reference when determining the youngster’s value.

Jobe Bellingham’s £32m move from Sunderland to Borussia Dortmund earlier in the window provides a similar benchmark, with Elliott having considerably more top-level experience than the teenage star.

Elliott joined Liverpool as a prodigious teenager from Fulham in 2019, and has made 94 appearances for the Reds since, bagging himself 18 goal contributions.

With two years left on his contract, Elliott has hinted that he is open to a challenge elsewhere – with Champions League clubs understood to be circling.

The Athletic name RB Leipzig as among those interested – although the Germans will not be able to offer European football having failed to qualify for any competitions.

SunSport revealed that Brighton are keen on the midfield ace. However, they too can not meet any European football desires.

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When asked about his Liverpool future ahead of his Euros campaign, Elliott told Hayters TV: “I am coming to an age where I do not want to be wasting years of my career.

“I want to be the best player I can be, and if [the way to do] that is to go somewhere else, then it is a decision that I am going to have to make.”

Elliott’s list of suitors has been bolstered by his outstanding contribution in England’s recent U21 Euros title defence.

Elliott’s brace saw England through a tight semi-final against the Netherlands, before he opened the scoring in the final against Germany three days later.

His performances earned him the player of the tournament award, an accolade most recently won by Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon.

Slot is believed to be undecided on Elliott, although sources told SunSport the Dutchman would be unlikely to stand in his way if he wanted to leave and if a deal could be agreed that suited club and player.

Kaizer Chiefs will have a new-look attack next season. This skillful and speedy winger and two strikers are set to join Amakhosi.

A nine-day-old baby who was reported missing from a Bellville shopping centre has been found safe and unharmed.

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