Champion of the Month: Poppy – Resilience Beyond the Game

At Champion Her Game, we believe sport is about more than ability.
It’s about resilience, courage, and the strength to keep going when everything feels hard.

This month, we’re proud to celebrate Poppy, aged 9.

Over the past 15 months, Poppy has faced more challenges than many adults ever will.

Last January, she broke her knee — an injury that took her out of the game she loves and forced her to miss the end of the season and every tournament she had been looking forward to.

She worked tirelessly to rebuild her fitness.
She fought her way back.
She found her rhythm again.

And then, just as she returned to full strength, she was hit with another setback — a painful hip flexor injury this March. The kind of injury that stops everything. The kind that makes a 9‑year‑old wonder why this keeps happening to her.

But Poppy’s story doesn’t stop there.

Alongside her injuries, Poppy also lives with epilepsy.
In November, she began new medication — and the journey was far from smooth. The side effects caused more seizures, more uncertainty, and more moments where she wanted to stop altogether.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she set herself a challenge:
Walk 100 miles in January.

Not for herself.
Not for attention.
But to raise money for charity.

She completed every mile — and raised over £1,600.

That is who Poppy is.

A girl who keeps smiling.
A girl who keeps giving.
A girl who keeps trying, even when her body makes it harder than it should be.

Her mum describes her as “the most selfless, happy‑go‑lucky 9‑year‑old you’ll ever meet.”
A girl whose determination “floors” her.

We see it too.

Because what makes Poppy special isn’t just her love of football.
It’s her spirit.

Her ability to face setback after setback and still choose kindness.
Still choose joy.
Still choose hope.

At Champion Her Game, this is exactly what we stand for.

Not just strong players — but strong hearts.
Not just girls who win — but girls who rise.

This is resilience.
This is her game.

Learn more about why we celebrate real girls and women in grassroots sport.

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