The Wings are being represented on the world stage this summer thanks to Welling United Women’s star Sarah White as she prepares for the FIFG FootGolf World Cup.

The women’s team striker enjoyed a fruitful season in front of goal and she will be looking to take her form into a slightly different variation of the game when she heads to Florida this weekend as part of the England team.

FootGolf is the ultimate hybrid sport combining the skills of football with the elegance of golf and the FootGolf World Cup will showcase the world’s best footgolfers competing on some of FootGolf’s most challenging courses at Walt Disney World Golf in Orlando. 

39 countries will be represented at the competition and White will be proudly flying the flag for England in a sport she fell in love with not so long ago. 

“I’ve only been playing for three years,” she explained.  

“Two of my friends got me to come up to Pedham Place footgolf in Swanley and have a go at a competition there. I signed up and didn’t think much of it because I had never played it before, but I really enjoyed it. You don’t realise how strenuous on the legs it can be! It’s quite technical, you have to have good strength and be able to kick a ball well. 

“I went up there, did the competition and they said ‘do you know what? You’re pretty good at this! ‘, and the rest is history!”

White qualified for a place in the England squad by picking up the requisite points playing and winning various competitions domestically and is expecting a tough test in front of her when she touches down in the USA, albeit one that she is very much looking forward to. 

“I played all the competitions I could last year which allowed me to qualify to represent England in the World Cup,” she said. 

“I had to gain enough points and wins in each competition. Four of us, as ladies, qualified for the World Cup and it’s just been about playing as many competitions as I can to wrack up those points to allow me to qualify. 

“There is a women’s individual competition and then a separate team event. It will be interesting because there will be a lot of fatigue due to the heat and the size of the courses! 

“It will be a real test for those who have taking their fitness and preparation seriously and it will be a real test mentally as well.”

“I’m really confident we’ll do well, because we’ve prepared well,” added White. 

“I have to just go out there and enjoy the experience. There’s no point going out there to put too much pressure on yourself, it would be no fun if you do that. 

“Putting pressure on yourself can also cause conflict in your game, so I’m going to enjoy the experience, do the best I can for myself and for the people that have supported me and do my best for the team.”

White is able to make the journey out to the USA for competition thanks to the support of the club and the Welling United Business club with the sponsorship of Point of View Glazing, the Shutter Tree, SGR Accountancy and the Take a Knife, Save a Life charity.

Highlighting the importance of the Wings community, she expressed her thanks to all those who have helped her on her journey. 

“I want to say a huge thank you for those who have sponsored me, because without them I would never have got there,” said White. 

“I also want to thank Nigel Jones, who does our matchday announcing at Park View Road. He’s gone that extra mile and got people in contact to make things happen for me. 

“Dave Jueno and Paul Whitehead have also been hugely supportive so I’m ever so grateful to all of them and the club for their help and support.”

Meanwhile, reflecting on a successful season which had been tough at times, juggling being a mother with her footgolf and football commitments, White is rightly proud of her achievements. 

“It has been very tough mentally at times,” she said. 

“But overall, I’m really pleased and proud of the team and of Keith [Women’s team manager Keith Boanas] because I’ve known him for so long. 

“I’m proud of myself as well because I had a lot of work to do from the start of the season. I didn’t come in right at the beginning and I had a lot of work to do after having my little one. 

“I don’t think I let myself down. There’s always room for improvement, but I feel like I did myself and my family proud.”

The tournament begins on Monday, May 29th and supporters can follow White’s progress with full coverage of the FIFG FootGolf World Cup being broadcast for free via the CTV app, which can be downloaded by clicking here.