Could you start by telling us a little background such as if you were you a sporty person when you were younger, and how long you had a break from playing sports before you got involved with Walking Football?
At school age I played football and went onto represent Bradford City Juniors. Later I joined the RAF and represented the RAF at football. After the RAF I played semi professional for a team in South Wales. I then moved and played local football up until the age of 37.
Then like most players over 35 recovering from a match took longer and longer, so I threw away my boots and retired from football at 38.
So what made you decide to start up a new Walking Football club and how long has it been running?
I became aware of Walking Football and went to play weekly with a club a few miles away. I thoroughly enjoyed playing football again and became hooked. Then 6 months later I moved to Skipton, North Yorkshire and. as there was NO walking football club locally. I decided to start up and run a WF club, and in March 2018 Skipton Walking Football Club was founded.
Obviously a club requires a venue to play and players to attend, but what are the key actions and requirements needed in order to create and grow a new Walking Football club?
Not necessarily in any order of priority But the first one sounds ‘corporate’ but:
· Make a Plan ( plan the work and work the plan)
· Know the rules ( I qualified as a WFA Club referee as you do not want new players to learn bad habits early on and being a referee with knowledge of the rules adds to your credibility)
· Locate a sports pitch and negotiate a ‘new club starter pitch hire’ cost with the sports centre.
· Network with others for info and advice as appropriate ( local health officer, local council sports officer, local FA representative, local football club).
· Advertise at least 1 month prior to start of 1st session ( flyer, posters in local stores, shops, popular places where over 50’s tend to frequent and on Facebook)
· Either spend or obtain a grant / funds sufficient for the basic equipment i.e £ 150.00
· Develop : Club Rules, Safeguarding assessments, Medical/ First Aid and blood procedures and test them i.e. first aid exercises as soon as the club starts to verify and provide assurance to your players that we know what to do.
· Obtain public liability insurance
For readers who are interested in starting up their own club or sessions, could you tell us about some of the problems you have encountered and how you managed to resolve them?
Problem 1: Where is the money coming from to pay for equipment?
Solution: I estimated that the minimum equipment costs would be just over £ 150 I could personally fund this amount and decided that the players fees and any grants would compensate my initial outlay. I sourced an online football kit / equipment company.
Problem 2: How will I get this initiative out there for others to see.
Solution: It sounds like there will be allot of things to do, but they aren’t difficult nor too time consuming.
If you are going to source external funding, ….then start this process ASAP, the providers own bureaucracy and process to process you request can take a long time.
Advertise and communicate the new start up club as early as possible ( flyer, posters in local stores, shops, popular places where over 50’s tend to frequent and on Facebook)
Insurance – initially try and play under the sports centre’s insurance policy (discuss their arrangements with the chosen sports centre i.e. recreational group playing football (just play & pay ). When you know you have sufficient interest then obtain your own clubs insurance.
From what you have learnt over the past 5 months since starting Skipton WFC, what would you say are your key learning points in addition to solving the problems mention above?
1. Always remember , for most of the new players YOU will be their first introduction to WF. So you need to demonstrate the right ‘ ethos ‘and set a good example.
2. Appreciate that ALL abilities of players will attend, be friendly, be patient, encourage and show respect and try to get all the other players to respect all abilities, gender and age.
3. Be patient…do not be too disappointed if only a couple of players turn up at the 1 st session ( we had 6 players, but a day later on the 2nd session we had 19 )…..word goes round, we now have 51.
4. Rules- Decide if you are going to play either FA rules or the WFA rules……for me I wanted to get a WFA qualification in order to have some ‘credibility’ for our new players and only the WFA had a referee course available. Our demographic is more likely to take more time to recover from, sprains, strains , injuries….that said if you decide to play ‘ minimal contact’……there is still a risk of injury . So we decided that we play …NO CONTACT …. it reduces the risk of injuries by contact.
5. Carryout a short ‘introduction’ at the new players 1st session i.e. ( cover some but not all of the rules for example, I demonstrate non contact, no tackling from behind / side, demonstrate walking heal and toe, one foot on the ground, leading leg to be straight) and no jogging / running…head height, sports centre’s facilities and 1st aid arrangements etc.
6. Record attendee’s names and contact details and handout player registration forms.
How many regular players attend each session now?
We have 51 registered players, around 6 injured , between 3-8 on holiday and we have around 10 players who play twice per week. Sunday session 8 players, Monday 10 -14, and Thursday 18-20 players.
How many hours per week on average do you spend on club related matters?
Admin = 1 hrs – (emails, texts, admin, depositing money to bank, paying monthly pitch hire fees).
Is your club funded in any way and if so, how did you achieve securing these revenue streams?
I contacted the local FA and requested a small ‘cash’package, but to date nothing has been delivered (9 months wait!)
A local grant of £100 was obtained which went to cover my initial personal expense of buying all the equipment. I chose not to obtain any large funds / grants as i was not sure how much interest the new starter club would generate. And to be honest the club does not NEED allot of money for it to run.
What is the cost per week for players to attend and play?
First session is FREE and every session is £5 now funds are stable, I have reduced the Sunday sessions to £3.
Is your club affiliated and if so who did you decide to affiliate with and why? What requirements and ethos did / would you look for when choosing the body to affiliate with?
I have affiliated the club with the WFA. In the ideal world only one organisation should ‘manage, govern and guide WF. But in my opinion the FA were too slow to acknowledge the actual and potential of WF, and the WFA started and have done a great job so far…..but at some point I feel that there should be only ONE organising body and that should be the FA. But as long as for example they choose minimal contact then they do not get my preference.
I affiliated to the WFA for the ETHOS. And I affiliated with the FA for a reduced cheaper public liability insurance cover.
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?
YES BIGTIME – I recently watched the Northern Premier League session, and was really disappointed on just how over competitive the players / teams were as well as how poor the refereeing standards were.
Players will try and get away with what the referee will allow. I came away with the opinion that the WFA / FA need monitor by attendance these types and all types of WF competitive tournaments before the ETHOS is just something said and not practiced.
Do you always have a club member present who has had first aid training at your games and training sessions?
No …..I would advise that your Safeguarding Assessment determines this requirement, for example:
Our safeguarding assessments identified that a club member does not need to have current first aid qualifications, this is because The sports centre staff where we play are all first aid trained and can can respond with emergency equipment pretty quickly to where we play. We have in partnership with the sports centre staff developed our Safeguarding assessment, and our own First Aid and Blood spillage procedures ( this was a requirement from our lnsurance provider). We have in partnership with the sports centre staff carried out 2 exercises to test the effectiveness of response, treatment and our own emergency contact arrangements.
As the facilitator who attends each session I was in my past first aid instructor, so I know what to do, not all injuries need a qualified responder i.e. muscle twinge, sprain etc can be covered by using our own medical bag and equipment. That said, if the facilitator / injured party or any player attending advises that the minor injury should be seen by a qualified first aider then they would do so.
Has your social life changed since you became involved with Walking Football, and if so in which ways?
I moved to a new house, a new town where I knew no one, now I have 50 registered players, When we play we have fun, good banter and I clearly state to new players, that nothing socially is expected, they can be as social as they want to be. For me I have made allot of friends. We have had social get together’s already.
If you could sum up the benefits or enjoyment Walking Football brings you with a single quote, what would that quote be?
Don’t hesitate- try it, you will probably like it, you can get fit, have fun and meet new friends.
What are your best and worst Walking Football memories?
Best- Playing football again and seeing players between 50 and 80 playing football , having a laugh having fun and buying football / sorts kit at 70+…..it’s great.
Worst – Watching competitive WF teams play as their teams and tournament officials not following the WFA ETHOS.
What do you like least about Walking Football or running the club?
There is NO Guide on how to start a WF Club.
Tournaments / Leagues should in my opinion be required to follow the WFA players rules to have consistent application of the rules and ETHOS.
Do your players find it difficult NOT to run and what advice could you give someone in how to remain at walking pace?
Yes nearly ALL players who have played football before do struggle, some do not really manage it all. Demonstrate what is and is not allowed to all NEW Players. Most players adapt over time and I find it important to STRESS that it is about fun and fitness then being competitive – take the speed out of the game and that slow players down…as a referee verbally advise and blow your whistle and give a free kick against offenders.
Demonstrate Heal and toe, one foot on the ground only and leading leg to be straight. And at the end of the day the person who has the whistle has to interpret the rules and their judgement is final.
After 8 months some players still continue to not walk, this spoils the game….only reminding them constantly and using the blue card should change their behaviour… but it is a long on going process.
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?
It is very hard to start something new…the readers of this will probably be players already… I would encourage you all to spread the word…tell newbies to come and watch….come with a friend. For me I thought that by having the first session FREE would be an encouragement for new players to attend.
What are your goals for the future regarding your Walking Football club?
1. Create a website
2. Create an identity i.e. emblem, name i,e Skipton Vikings, Skipton Rams.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I have mentioned in this interview a number of documents that I feel that a club should have.
I can share our versions of ( action plan, club rules, safeguarding assessment, first aid, blood spillage procedures) if anyone wants to contact me directly.
Author: The Walking Football
You create the memories; we help you relive them forever!
