Empowering women in care: Lisa-Marie, Deputy Manager at Green Park Nursing Home

If your loved one lives in our Warrington nursing home, you’ll be all too familiar with Lisa-Marie’s friendly and caring nature – but did you know, alongside caring for residents at Green Park, she’s also helping young girls enjoy football? We spoke to Lisa-Marie about why she wanted to support the young football fans, and how she juggles life as a Deputy Manager, coach and mum!

In August 2023, Lisa-Marie started the journey to eventually become the coach of not one, but two football teams after discovering her local club couldn't support her daughter's ambitions to become a footballer. Now with a League Cup under their belt, she’s been reflecting on her journey as a football coach.

“I’ve always loved football and my step-daughters were already in their local grassroots team before I first started coaching” said Lisa-Marie, who joined our Warrington Nursing Home in 2023. “My family and I had been watching the Women’s World Cup final when my youngest two daughters became inspired by the likes of Millie Bright and Georgia Stanway, and wanted to join a local football club. Unfortunately, we quickly discovered there were no young girls football teams nearby, and my daughters were devastated.

Seeing their disappointment made me want to help make a change for young women in my community, and as a football fanatic myself, I knew exactly what to do. I became a coach and launched two new teams; the Ashton Upon Mersey U7 ‘Badgers’, and U10 ‘Thunders’!”

Lisa-Marie’s passion for inclusivity is clear to everyone she meets, but her own experience with football as a child is why she drives for better opportunities for young girls. “I felt inspired to make a difference for the younger generation; I quit football at a young age because there were no local football teams for me to join, which was heartbreaking at the time.

Football is wrongly perceived as a male sport, but that’s just not the case – us women love football, too! Now, I’m helping to make sure no young girls are left feeling forgotten because of their gender. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved in such a short space of time.”

Recently selected to take penalties against Salford City Football Club’s mascot, the teams have already had some unforgettable experiences, including the Badgers winning the Manchester Girls League Cup. Both teams are so popular, they even have waiting lists to join the squad – impressive!

The importance of equal opportunities is obvious to Lisa-Marie, having seen the difference in the young girls playing in her teams. “By playing football, the girls are not just keeping active, they’re learning valuable teamwork skills, too. I’ve seen shy girls become confident in their abilities, and the friendships built at our club is heart-warming. The parents have also given excellent feedback; they’ve noticed a positive change in their children, and have even seen an improvement in their focus at school.”

Bringing the residents of Green Park Nursing Home and her football teams together is something Lisa-Marie has always wanted to do, saying “It would be an excellent inter-generational project. We have a lot of football fanatics at Green Park, so I know they’d love to speak to our teams. We could even have a charity match at the nursing home – watch this space!”

The Great Sankey nursing home, which offers dementia-specialist care through our Reconnect communities, often hosts fun-filled events for their residents, including a recent Wild West party and a celebration for Housekeeper, Louise, who ran an entire marathon around the nursing home.

Lisa-Marie admitted that juggling a career in care, coaching two football teams and being a parent isn’t always plain sailing, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I enjoy keeping busy, and coaching gives me the mental headspace that helps me find clarity at work and home. Oh – I’m also currently studying and I’m a safeguarding welfare officer for the football club committee, did I mention that? It really is all systems go in the Hutchinson household!”  

Now representing the women’s football team, Lisa-Marie has truly embraced her passions and is enjoying every minute of her sporting career. They say not all heroes wear capes, and we agree…they wear training bibs! Thank you to Lisa-Marie for allowing us to share your story – you’re an inspiration to us all.

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