Hi. I’m Julie Norris, a proud Yorkshire girl who lives and plays football locally, nationally and now internationally!

As a child, the only way I could play football was with the boys on the Playing fields next to my local football club because apparently girls couldn’t play football!

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease on 15th May 2021 and I thought my world and dreams had ended. How wrong I was! That day was the start of my new future.

Here we are, 4 years later and I am proud to play for the first and only all women’s Parkinson’s walking football team IN THE WORLD, The Pioneers!

In September 2025 I was invited to trials and was selected to represent England. It is a dream come true and I wear both my Pioneer’s and England shirts with pride.

In September 2026 the men’s and women’s teams will be on tour in Canada where we hope to raise awareness of the benefits of football and to show the world that a diagnosis doesn’t mean you have to give up and stop: it is an opportunity to show what we CAN do and show Parkinson’s who is really in charge of our futures.

I would love to join my teammates on this tour to help raise awareness and share my love of football. I need your help to raise funds towards the costs I will incur. Thank you.