A Federation member says she and a squad of Cambs Police FC (CPFC) players ‘did ourselves proud’ at the Police Sport UK (PSUK) Women’s Football Championship earlier this summer.
One of the biggest events in the PSUK calendar, this year’s edition saw Cambridgeshire Constabulary joined by 15 other forces in being represented at the annual tournament.
A total of 19 teams vied to clinch the Championship title across an exciting weekend up at Leisure United Ford Sports Complex in Sunderland, with Northumbria Police selected as hosts for 2026.
Matters were played out through a format which split all participants up into two concurrent leagues before the top four from each advanced to a knockout phase.
Despite failure to progress beyond the initial league round, experienced CPFC player Detective Sergeant Dani Lewis believes the side still made an overwhelming success of the tournament thanks to the many positive memories made over both days.
“I’ve been part of the set-up for seven years now, and in most of that time, I’ve gone with the club to the tournament wherever it’s been held. It’s a really well-organised and well-attended event, and you can always expect a great atmosphere,” Dani said.
“There can be a big element of competitiveness among some teams – and there’s nothing wrong with that – but for us, it’s more about just getting together and giving everyone a chance to play.
“This year was no different in that respect, so we were able to enjoy it as we usually do and have a fantastic time with our minds away from day-to-day work.
“At the end of the weekend, it’s nice to feel the bond that’s been built up after spending virtually every minute of 48 hours together, representing our force as one.”
Dani added that this collective spirit extended beyond just her immediate colleagues, as she also felt a sense of togetherness with all officers and staff present in Sunderland.
It was Northumbria Police who eventually ran out as tournament winners on home soil, after beating Merseyside Police in a tense final which went the full distance to a penalty shoot-out.
“Northumbria were terrific hosts and deserved champions following what was a great spectacle in the final,” Dani continued.
“Being joined by your policing peers from all over the country is a special thing – everyone there is unified by football and the event itself, which feels like a celebration of what all have in common.
“Better still, it doesn’t feel like networking in the traditional way, because you are away from the normal work environment and you don’t feel compelled to discuss professional topics with each other – unless you want to, of course.”
Looking ahead for the women’s side of CPFC, Dani discussed the current make-up of the team and encouraged the addition of further playing members.
“At the moment, we play around three or four fixtures a year, plus this PSUK tournament. Nowadays, the tournament is 7-a-side as opposed to 11-a-side, meaning we are less reliant on numbers, but we could always use a deeper squad.
“We have a good spine of experience, but equally, it is always good to plan for the future. We also have some very good players, including Sam Chapman who is a goalkeeper for Great Britain Police Ladies.
“More importantly than anyone’s ability, we come together as friends and colleagues and make sure everyone feels included. We are a small force, but there can still be a divide at times between North and South Cambs, so it is good for that to be disappear in what we do here.
“If you are interested in joining, you can get in touch with myself, Jess Didio (North) or Amanda Rossiter (South) to find out more.”
Federation members can also keep up with all footballing exploits at Cambs Police FC by following the club on Instagram.
