A man from Warwick has written and published a book telling the story of his walking football club.
For more than 50 years, Phil Haycock has been involved in local football. He played for Avon Rovers during the 1980s, for whom he scored more than 100 goals.
He then went on to become a local football coach and in 2001, he was involved in setting up Woodloes Juniors FC with Kim and Dean Brandrick, that later became Warwick Juniors, who today have more than 20 boys and girls’ teams playing.
The book, “Gentlemen! Gentlemen!”, looks at the benefits of playing walking football, which has now become a global phenomenon.
Speaking about when he joined the club in 2022, Phil said: “Initially I couldn’t see how the words ‘walking’ and ‘football’ could possibly go together.”
However, he said he became immediately hooked.
The book recounts how the group started in 2019 and how it ended up at Racing Club Warwick FC in 2022, with the support of its chairman, Gary Vella.
It also tells the life stories of several of the players and how they found their way to the group.
Phil added: “Readers will find from the players accounts, that, within the club, there are players that have faced both physical and mental illness, have suffered the loss of loved ones and struggled with the myriad of everyday problems that arise as they get older…
FULL STORY at source: https://www.warwickshireworld.com/news/people/after-50-years-in-local-football-popular-warwick-footballer-tells-his-story-of-getting-hooked-on-walking-football-5048093
Copies of the book can be purchased by emailing: philhaycock60@hotmail.co.uk
Two pounds from each book sold is donated to The Aylesford Unit at Warwick Hospital and so far sales and other donations have raised more than £500.
MORE INFO on Warwick Walking Football: https://walkingfootball.com/walking-football/united-kingdom/warwickshire/warwick/walking-football-clubs/racing-club-warwick-walkers/
Author: The Walking Football
You create the memories; we help you relive them forever!
