WALKING footballer Tracy Dudwell has been called up to play for England.

She will make her debut in a women’s walking football international friendly next month.

Tracy never played football in her younger days, but has already made a big impact on walking football in just three years.

Tracy, aged 52, is one of only two women among the 70 members of Hartshill Strollers Walking Football Club, which meets at Summerhill School, Kingswinford.

She said: “I love playing the game and I am excited and overwhelmed at being chosen to play for my country.”

Tracy, who lives in Wolverhampton, took up the sport with her husband, Stewart.

The couple regularly play together – and against each other – in club practice matches and at tournaments.

Tracy and Stewart are also keen on other competitive sports, mainly tennis – being members of Wall Heath Tennis Club in Dudley and Hanbury Tennis Club in Wolverhampton.

The couple have two children and two grandchildren.

Club-mates at Hartshill Strollers say Tracy asks for no special treatment from men on the pitch – and is given none – and she is regarded as one of the club’s top players, irrespective of gender.

Tracy is also a member of Birmingham Walking Football Club Over 50s women’s team.

She will play her first match for England women versus Guernsey (away) on November 1.

Meanwhile, Hartshill goalkeeper Dave Seddon has won an England cap in the Over 70s men’s category and will also make his debut in Guernsey.

Last year, international caps were conferred on the club’s Pete Gibbons (Over 50s) and John Cooper (Over 60s).

Super-striker Cooper scored the only goal in the Greece v. England international in Crete [on Sunday, October 20].

Hartshill Strollers was founded in 2014 and has grown to become one of the leading walking football clubs in the country.

In 2016, the men’s Over 60s team won the Walking Football United National Tournament, the sport’s equivalent of the FA Cup.

Club founder and now chief executive Mark Grazier said: “We are delighted that we have four internationals on our books now that Tracy – and Dave – have been honoured by their country.

“I know they will both do us proud.”