Club Roles: Walking Football Manager for the Over 60’s and Over 50’s teams; Commercial Manager for main Football Club; Member of main Club’s Football Committee; Club volunteer; Match Day Programme Editor and Publisher.
How long have you been involved with the running / management of the club?
Since May 2016.
Why did you first get involved with helping run your Walking Football club?
Other members of my family also live in the Harwich area and they suggested I contacted the main Club as I had previously involvement with another Walking Football team.
I moved to Dovercourt Bay in March 2016.
When was your Walking Football Club formed?
June 2016.
How many hours per week do you spend on club related matters?
Even though I am retired – I would say now in excess of 20 hours per week but that would include all of the work I do around the main club including Walking Football team and Essex Walking Football League matters.
Is your club funded in any way and if so, how did you achieve securing these revenue streams?
The Walking Football team is part-funded by the main club like most other teams under their community policy but we do charge training session fees, which are passed on to the main club.
Each team currently finds their own sponsors.
Does your club follow rules of the game created by any official body / association? If the answer is yes, why did you decide to follow those association rules?
The Walking Football team/s follows the match day rules as specified by the Essex Walking Football League.
These are based upon the rules promoted by the Walking Football Association.
The two over 60’s teams are part of the Essex Walking Football League.
How many regular players attend each session and how quickly have numbers grown since the club was formed?
We have steadily grown since starting our over 60’s training sessions in June 2016.
Our first session only four attended.
We regularly have in excess of twenty now.
We have found it difficult to attract the over 50’s to Evening sessions and this has been put on hold.
If your club plays a competitive game, rather than one of the weekly Walking Football fitness sessions, do you see any change of attitude in respect of competitiveness in the players?
Our weekly sessions are a bit of both.
We have two teams in the Over 60’s Division of the Essex Walking Football League so you would expect a degree of competiveness from players who want to be involved in this.
We also have lads who just come along for the training and some camaraderie.
We try to create an environment of fun as well as having a degree of seriousness.
Our club motto is; ”You don’t have to be the best, just the best you can be. Don’t forget it is also about having some fun!”
Do you feel fitter and healthier since you have started playing Walking Football and if so in which ways?
Undoubtedly!
Both mentally and physically. I have seen a loss in weight.
I feel much healthier and more alert in many ways.
Have you had any injuries playing and if so what were they?
Fractured ribs (twice), the second more serious than the first; pulled hamstrings and swollen ankles.
Do you always have a club member present who has had first aid training at your games and training sessions?
Yes.
They must also be capable of using a defibrillator and have attended a FA Emergency Aid Course.
Player’s health mentally and physically is very important to us.
Has your social life changed since you became involved with Walking Football, and if so in which ways?
Absolutely!
Having moved into the Harwich area last year being involved with the main Club and organising the Walking Football I have met many new friends.
What are your best and worst Walking Football memories?
Worst: Apart from the two instances of fractured ribs? I suppose having seen two players being sent off during a game for verbal abuse and for pushing. Sorry guys, at your age you should really know better!
Best: Have Little Oakley Blues Walking Football team win the Over 60’s Division of the Day Lewis Pharmacy Essex Walking Football League in the first season of the EWFL. Seeing all of our hard work paying off.
How else has playing Walking Football affected your life?
Being part of the team that created and organised the Essex Walking Football League this year.
I am currently its Chairman.
What do you like most about Walking Football?
The camaraderie of other like-minded individuals.
The social life it has created.
This includes going on a trip to Bordeaux this year and playing two games during our visit.
Made up for the food, wine and beer consumed during that period!
What do you like least about Walking Football?
Not much, but why can’t some players get it into their heads that Walking Football is not about running either on or off the ball.
Non-contact means no contact.
You really do not need to tackle an opposition player to get the ball – get to the ball before he does!
Do you find it difficult NOT to run and what advice could you give someone in how to remain at walking pace?
No.
It is about anticipating what your opposition is going to do with the ball.
Obviously some individuals have found this difficult because that is the style of play they are used to.
A consensus of opinion it is should be about Referees penalising players and taking more control. Sorry guys, it is not.
It is a state of mind.
What are your goals for the future regarding your Walking Football club?
To win the Over 60’s and Over 50’s Divisions of the Essex Walking Football League next season.
To see some of players appearing in an England shirt.
To be one of the most-respected Walking Football teams in the UK.
What advice would you give to someone who would like to play but is nervous about approaching a club or attending a Walking Football session for the first time?
Don’t take it too seriously.
Do it at your pace.
Don’t worry about what others might think about you or your football skills.
Attend a Walking Football session and meet some new friends and most importantly have some fun.
It is never too late!
What do your friends and family think about you playing a sport again at your age?
They think it’s great.
Rather than see me vegetating on the sofa, whilst playing on the Xbox!
What are the costs involved in order for you to play / run your Walking Football club?
We charge £4.00 per session per person.
Being part of a bigger Football Team our fees help to go towards the running of the main club and the upkeep of the 3G pitch etc.
The main club provides the kits for both teams, food for tournaments and the use of the 3G pitch for training sessions and when we need it, grass pitches for tournaments etc.
Anything else you’d like to share?
If you want to be serious about Walking Football provide your players with an outlet for their skills; enter tournaments or maybe join a local league.
If there isn’t one organise one yourself.
Author: The Walking Football
You create the memories; we help you relive them forever!
