Michelle Senior has spoken of how football has given her a new lease of life after beating cancer.

Senior, 37, was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2017 and after two unsuccessful operations was told she needed a mastectomy.

The medication she had to take after that made her gain weight but help was at hand in the form of Maidstone Magpies.

Senior said: "My sister told me a friend of ours was starting a women's football team so I went along.

"There was only about eight of us and I'd never played football before. I just gave it a go and fell in love with it.

"Most of us had never kicked a ball before but now we've won four out of five tournaments. We've all developed a skill we didn't know we had!"

Playing football has helped Senior physically and mentally over the last year.

She said: "We do a lot of socials as well. I didn't do any sport so it's given me something to look forward to each week.

"Exercise is good for you mentally and physically so it's really helped.

"It came into my life just at the right time because they've been so supportive. It's helped my mental health – just being normal."

The team, coached by Katie Whitmore, hosted a tournament in aid of Breast Cancer on Saturday.

Senior said: "One of the girls mentioned about doing a charity tournament and she went in full steam ahead, working full-time and doing that voluntarily.

"She's got a heart of gold, puts herself out and wanted it all perfect for us, which we think it was."

It's just over a year since Senior got the all-clear and both she and the Magpies have gone from strength to strength since then.

Their group of eight is now up to 26.

Senior said: "I haven't met anyone yet who's come and didn't like it.

"We've got a real variety of people and our paths would never cross if it wasn't for football.

"We're all so different yet if any of us has a problem, all our doors are open. Get us on the football pitch and we're one big family.

"At the tournament, everyone said the love we have for all our players stuck out like a sore thumb and it was overwhelming to see.

"Tuesday is our best day of the week because that's when we train."