Women's captain Helen Dobson hangs up boots

After more than 30 years in the game, Warrington Town Women captain Helen Dobson has announced her retirement from football. 

The decision to hang up her boots brings to a close an incredible football career that began when women and girls’ football looked very different to today.

We are proud to celebrate a truly remarkable player, team-mate, captain, founder, friend, daughter, mum and footballer.

From playing football in the back garden with a broken leg, playing alongside the boys at school, Helen was one of the early pioneers of girls’ football in Warrington.

She went on to represent clubs including Warrington Grange and Pennington FC, before helping to found Warrington Wolverines in 2013 and playing a key role in the club’s back-to-back league-winning seasons.

One of the most special parts of Helen’s story is that she shared most of it with her sister, Nic.

For over three decades they played side by side, creating memories, sharing victories and defeats, and building a bond through football that few siblings ever get to experience.

Helen’s dedication never wavered. Even after becoming a mum, she continued doing what she loved most - pulling on her boots and stepping onto the pitch.

Football wasn’t just a hobby: it was part of who she was.

Among many achievements, one of her proudest moments was captaining Warrington Town and helping build the team from the ground up - a legacy that will continue long after her final game.

While football brought trophies, promotions and unforgettable moments, perhaps its greatest gift was friendship. Many of the friends Helen made through football as a 10-year-old are still by her side today.

Helen's impact on the game locally will never fade, and her legacy will live on long after her retirement, in the clubs she has helped to build and the players she inspired.

From everyone at the club, thank you for everything you’ve given to football over the last 30 years, and congratulations on an incredible career, Helen.