1) Background
Name: Monty Towers
Age:40
Location: Middlesbrough
Walking Football Club Name: Middlesbrough FFIT Walking Football Club
How long have you played Walking Football? Since January 2017
2) Why did you first get involved with Walking Football?
I got in to walking football through Middlesbrough football clubs football fans in training course were you learn to eat healthy and do fitness around the ground well worth going to if your local club has a FFIT program I was asked by one of the walking football team if I would like to come along for a game and I said yeah I would not mind a game thinking it would be easy how wrong could I have been found it hard first couple of weeks not to run but been younger than most players I am learning the game for the future and love the game.
4) How many times a week do you take part in Walking Football sessions?
At the moment just once a week due to the kids holidays but looking to play more in the coming months.
3) What one or two things do you currently do in your training sessions that you think are important to avoid injury?
A good warm up is the best way not to get injured I have a slow ride to football as the start of my warm then a do stretches before I play then a warm down with a slow ride home also no tackling from behind is a must at our training.
5) Have you played competitive Walking Football, if so which tournaments / leagues?
With being only 40 there is not many tournaments our leagues for my age sadly they should be more but at the minute there is not I have only managed one tournament the Bobby Moore Tournament which was open to over 18s in our area were we finished second.
6) Has your diet changed since you have started playing Walking Football? If so what is different?
Yes, since I started the FFIT Programs my diet has changed a lot and helped me with my fitness and health I’ve kept it going since the course finished as I want to be able to play and keep fit.
7) Do you feel fitter and healthier since you have started playing Walking Football and if so in which ways?
I was starting to lose my fitness but over the past year my fitness has got back to normal levels riding my bike again and playing walking football as made me feel better.
8) Have you had any injuries playing and if so what were they?
Yes, little ones my groins are the worst been able to still run is the problem having to stop my self-running and to be able to make my self-walking is destroying my groins also stamps on my foot was a problem and little kicks against me have giving me a couple of brushes.
9) Do you always have a club member present who has had first aid training at your games and training sessions?
Yes, we do I am first aid trained and staff at the location where we play are also trained in this.
10) Has your social life changed since you started playing, and if so in what way?
In one yes and another way no I meet some great people at walking football and hope to continue this but we don’t really socials outside of walking football at the moment but we do all chat on our Facebook page. Needs to change though guys
11) What are your best and worst memories of playing Walking Football?
Best moment scoring my first goal in the Bobby Moore tournament and coming second was good to score and know what’s it’s like to play in tournament. Worst not been able to play in many tournaments or leagues.
12) How else has playing Walking Football affected your life?
It’s got be back in to football again and I’ve been made club secretary which sometimes like having a full-time job but love doing it sorting out games and tournaments really enjoying doing it. Since I started walking football it has become a big part of my life.
13) What do you like most about Walking Football?
I am enjoying playing walking football as its great knowing you aren’t going to get tackled from behind or badly hurt from tackles the slower game is great and I love the sport it’s great to know once you’re running days are over the beautiful game can continue and still play in tournaments and leagues and continue to keep fit.
14) What do you like least about Walking Football?
For me at the moment it’s the age groups with being young at 40 not many teams have a over 40s teams but am hoping soon this will happen as there is room for my age group as my Team Middlesbrough have a team of over 40s and a over 50s team and a couple of other teams in our area also do and we love playing.
15) What are your goals for the future when playing Walking Football?
My goals are to grow the game locally and national i really want to help grow this game help clubs grow and help walking football become the best football to play. I would like to create a county walking football team for my area and other areas and to help the England team have players. I have loads of great ideas to help grow this game but most of all I want to help people play walking football. We all can make our game great and the best.
16) Anything else you’d like to share?
Playing walking football is awesome and I reckoned if you can walk then get involved you will not regret it no matter how fit you are this game is forever body no matter what shape you are or color or sex it’s all about football but one thing I would like to happen is one set of rule only are made and we stick to them and for me we need more over 40s team to help continue the game for the future.
For me walking football should start at 40, yes I know people can still play normal football at 40 but some people can’t or just want to play a slower game and walking football is that I know a lot of people will be against this but over 50 and 60 will soon become over 60 and 70 and if we have over 40 teams then they can continue the game and they we just get more over 40 to continue the grow over and over.
For me Walking football will become big and we all need to do our part to help grow the game and it all starts with players.
Our aim at Middlesbrough is have many teams in all three age groups and we are going to be holding as many tournaments each year as we can and we are looking to get a local league going too and have a walking football sessions a couple of times each week and fitness sessions too we have some great plans in the wood work at Middlesbrough and we can’t wait to help grow the game.
Kind Regards
Monty
Author: The Walking Football
You create the memories; we help you relive them forever!
