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A Wrexham area walking football club is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a special tournament this weekend.

Coedpoeth WFC was formed in August 2016, to promote gentle exercise among men over 50. Since then, the club has blossomed and now has 36 male players and more than 20 women.

The anniversary tournament takes place on Sunday, at Pen Y Cae Football Club, starting at 11am. Teams from Wrexham, Anglesey and Chester will be joining Coedpoeth men’s and women’s teams for the celebrations.

A Wrexham area walking football club is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a special tournament this weekend. Coedpoeth WFC was formed in August 2016, to promote gentle exercise among men over 50. Since then, the club has blossomed and now has 36 male players and more than 20 women.
The anniversary tournament takes place on Sunday, at Pen Y Cae Football Club, starting at 11am. Teams from Wrexham, Anglesey and Chester will be joining Coedpoeth men's and women's teams for the celebrations. — Pic credit: Coedpoeth WFC

Club chairman Dave Donaghy said: “The idea to start a walking football group came from Arthur Evans, who was the community agent for the village at the time and is now the club’s president. Arthur’s vision and foresight were the key to everything that’s followed.

“I don’t think Arthur would have envisaged that his initiative would still be going after 10 weeks, let alone 10 years.”

Three of the club’s six founder members – Mel Jones, Keith Edwards and Dave Salathiel – are all in their 80s and still play regularly.

Since its launch in 2023, the women’s section has flourished, and has become the driving force behind the club’s fundraising efforts.

An impressive 20 players from the club – 16 men and four women – have represented Wales. The women’s internationals are Di Poingdestre (over 60s), Jan Manning (over 50s), Laura Williams (over 40s) and Ann Jarvis (Celtic Nations).

Over its 10-year existence, Coedpoeth has won the Coalfields Cup and the Deeside Cup, have been twice runners-up in the North Wales walking football league, and runners-up in the All-Wales play-offs.

In 2021, Dave Donaghy and his Coedpoeth teammate Geoff Pilmoor claimed the rare distinction of becoming double World Cup winners with Wales.

Dave said: “Over two days in Copenhagen, we played eight games of walking football and eight games of running football, and we managed to win both competitions.

“We always welcome new players but we have to limit it to over 60s for men, because of space restrictions. However, we’re also happy to include over 40s who are under doctor’s orders to take more exercise, to help with their recuperation.”

For details of Coedpoeth WFC training sessions, visit the club’s Facebook page or contact Brymbo Enterprise Centre.

Source: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/26402895.coedpoeth-walking-football-club-anniversary-tournament/

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