Supergran goes viral after jaw-dropping footballing trick shots

Supergran goes viral after jaw-dropping footballing trick shots

A soccer-loving supergran has become an internet sensation after videos of her performing jaw-dropping football trick shots from her wheelchair went viral.Violet Slater, 85, has been dubbed "Gran-aldo" after footage of her volleying the ball into the back of the net won her legions of fans including Gary Lineker and Dele Alli. The incredible videos showing Violet doing kick-ups and repeatedly hitting "top bins" with amazing accuracy in her son's back garden in Telford, Shrops. Her grandson Kodi, 11, has been sharing the clips of his gran's footballing talents to raise people's spirits during coronavirus lockdown.They have since been shared hundreds of thousands of times after being uploaded to social media by Violet's 34-year-old son Phil.In one comical video, Violet can be seen doing the trademark "Ravanelli" celebration pulling her shirt up over her head after hitting the back of the net.  Others show her casually volleying the ball into the top corner from the confines of a garden chair and a "no-look" chip from her living room sofa.  Violet found a new passion she could share with her family and took up soccer following her husband's death from dementia at the age of 87 in 2017.  After her son Phil built a mini football pitch in the garden of his home, Violet started to join in their practice sessions and found she loved the sport. Violet said: "It's put the life back into me to keep on going.

Its so exciting to know all my friends and family are watching. "I get so carried away watching football especially if it's my favourite team Wolves.

My deceased husband was a keen fan."When asked how long each trick shot takes to perfect, she replied: "As long as a piece of string."Sometimes longer than others but I don't like to be beaten so I persevere until I get it right. "I tend to stick my tongue out when I concentrate though, I have a good teacher in my son and grandson."I can't wait to get back to practice to keep me on my toes - which as you can imagine is difficult in a wheelchair," she joked. Phil, who is now a full-time carer for his mum, said he had football to thank for bringing the entire family together following the death of his father. He said: "She was heartbroken after what happened with my dad. "We found a passion for football in her which came from my boy.

We started getting her out in the garden and we both trained her up. "The smile was back on her face, she was loving the activity and exercise and created a  unbreakable bond between the three of us. "It's amazing to see my mum now get involved in football, in the same way as my dad.

She's so determined and she absolutely loves it. "You can see by the massive grin on her face when she nails a trick.

She's got so many different illnesses as well so it really does her good. "It gets her legs moving and the blood flowing.

She is starting to get more shots in than she misses. "Its brilliant to see, her face just lights up.

It's lovely to watch."Phil decided to share the footage on social media as a way of spreading some cheer during the Covid-19 lockdown.It has been viewed and shared thousands of times and even retweeted by England legend Gary Lineker who wrote: "Well played Violet".   Phil added: "We are just hoping to inspire others to keep active in their gardens."Mum was doing all her football skills right up until it lockdown and can't wait to get back out there.  "When this is all lifted she will come and have a kickaround in our garden again and I'm sure she will learn some new tricks." Shortly before the coronavirus pandemic stuck, Violet suffered a broken hip after falling out of bed while on holiday in Jamaica. Playing with Kodi was part of the Violet's rehabilitation, in addition to respite care and physiotherapy. Phil added: "She had major operation and we were using the football to try and build her back up just before the lockdown happened."She was in a home for respite care and physiotherapy but Kodi and I took it on ourselves to get her involved in our football sessions and she just loved it." Grandson Kodi is also famous on Facebook for his footballing ability, boasting over 9,000 followers despite only picking up the game properly two years ago.His internet fame led him to train with Premier League side Wolves, who quickly noticed his talent after a scout spotted him during a match.Kodi's passion for soccer comes from playing the game in order to keep his grandad Harry's brain stimulated during his battle with dementia. The pair would often take part in football and boxing exercises together, with Harry a former professional fighter in his youth. Phil said: "Football has been brilliant for our entire family.

I had my dad for 10 years at our home.

Now my mum is really into it as well now, which my dad would have loved."Football has been a major passion for us.

It's really helped us that much."Kodi has had so many opportunities and he's done amazing - but it seems to be mum who is now stealing the show." 

A soccer-loving supergran has become an internet sensation after videos of her performing jaw-dropping football trick shots from her wheelchair went viral.Violet Slater, 85, has been dubbed "Gran-aldo" after footage of her volleying the ball into the back of the net won her legions of fans including Gary Lineker and Dele Alli.

The incredible videos showing Violet doing kick-ups and repeatedly hitting "top bins" with amazing accuracy in her son's back garden in Telford, Shrops.

Her grandson Kodi, 11, has been sharing the clips of his gran's footballing talents to raise people's spirits during coronavirus lockdown.They have since been shared hundreds of thousands of times after being uploaded to social media by Violet's 34-year-old son Phil.In one comical video, Violet can be seen doing the trademark "Ravanelli" celebration pulling her shirt up over her head after hitting the back of the net.

Others show her casually volleying the ball into the top corner from the confines of a garden chair and a "no-look" chip from her living room sofa.

Violet found a new passion she could share with her family and took up soccer following her husband's death from dementia at the age of 87 in 2017.

After her son Phil built a mini football pitch in the garden of his home, Violet started to join in their practice sessions and found she loved the sport.

Violet said: "It's put the life back into me to keep on going.

Its so exciting to know all my friends and family are watching.

"I get so carried away watching football especially if it's my favourite team Wolves.

My deceased husband was a keen fan."When asked how long each trick shot takes to perfect, she replied: "As long as a piece of string."Sometimes longer than others but I don't like to be beaten so I persevere until I get it right.

"I tend to stick my tongue out when I concentrate though, I have a good teacher in my son and grandson."I can't wait to get back to practice to keep me on my toes - which as you can imagine is difficult in a wheelchair," she joked.

Phil, who is now a full-time carer for his mum, said he had football to thank for bringing the entire family together following the death of his father.

He said: "She was heartbroken after what happened with my dad.

"We found a passion for football in her which came from my boy.

We started getting her out in the garden and we both trained her up.

"The smile was back on her face, she was loving the activity and exercise and created a  unbreakable bond between the three of us.

"It's amazing to see my mum now get involved in football, in the same way as my dad.

She's so determined and she absolutely loves it.

"You can see by the massive grin on her face when she nails a trick.

She's got so many different illnesses as well so it really does her good.

"It gets her legs moving and the blood flowing.

She is starting to get more shots in than she misses.

"Its brilliant to see, her face just lights up.

It's lovely to watch."Phil decided to share the footage on social media as a way of spreading some cheer during the Covid-19 lockdown.It has been viewed and shared thousands of times and even retweeted by England legend Gary Lineker who wrote: "Well played Violet".

Phil added: "We are just hoping to inspire others to keep active in their gardens."Mum was doing all her football skills right up until it lockdown and can't wait to get back out there.

"When this is all lifted she will come and have a kickaround in our garden again and I'm sure she will learn some new tricks." Shortly before the coronavirus pandemic stuck, Violet suffered a broken hip after falling out of bed while on holiday in Jamaica.

Playing with Kodi was part of the Violet's rehabilitation, in addition to respite care and physiotherapy.

Phil added: "She had major operation and we were using the football to try and build her back up just before the lockdown happened."She was in a home for respite care and physiotherapy but Kodi and I took it on ourselves to get her involved in our football sessions and she just loved it." Grandson Kodi is also famous on Facebook for his footballing ability, boasting over 9,000 followers despite only picking up the game properly two years ago.His internet fame led him to train with Premier League side Wolves, who quickly noticed his talent after a scout spotted him during a match.Kodi's passion for soccer comes from playing the game in order to keep his grandad Harry's brain stimulated during his battle with dementia.

The pair would often take part in football and boxing exercises together, with Harry a former professional fighter in his youth.

Phil said: "Football has been brilliant for our entire family.

I had my dad for 10 years at our home.

Now my mum is really into it as well now, which my dad would have loved."Football has been a major passion for us.

It's really helped us that much."Kodi has had so many opportunities and he's done amazing - but it seems to be mum who is now stealing the show."