Could you start by telling us a little about your 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?
I played soccer from age 8 throughout school, into youth and open age leagues. I retired at age 42 but remained involved as a coach, manager and Club Official until 2002. The last few years were taken up with commercial activity for my Club and as a PR Officer for the local league. I became fed up with the politics of Club and League management and turned my back on the game for 13 years. I heard about Walking Football from my son who lived in St Helens. We watched the Club’s 2nd ever session and have played ever since. Initially I was content to just play each week but was asked to play in a monthly league at Man City’s Etihad Complex. That rekindled my interest in the beautiful game. The standard of play varied enormously but that didn’t seem to deter anyone. It was good to be active again and my enthusiasm and competitive nature soon returned. My son had a decent semi-pro career cut short by a serious knee injury so he plays though he isn’t 40 until March 2019. We find that the guys enjoy their weekly hour-long sessions and socially we mix pretty well too. Old teammates are surprised when I mention walking football, I think the Barclays advert’ did so much harm to the game’s image. Anyone who plays is quick to see the advantages to health, well-being and of course the social side is important too.
How long have you been involved with the running / management of the club?
The Club started as a local council sports council initiative in January 2015. By summer 2015 we were strong enough to form a self-funding Club structure, I was asked to become Chairman largely due to my long involvement in Club and League activity. So just over 3 years.
Why did you first get involved with helping run your Walking Football club?
Initially it was just curiosity I think. Could I still play? How would I adapt to walking rather than running?
When was your Walking Club formed?
Summer 2015 as a stand alone entity, after 4 or 5 months as a Council-run activity.
How many hours per week do you spend on club related matters?
We provide weekly hour long sessions with occasional friendlies and tournament entries.
In truth there’s little more for me to do, our Secretary Michaylo Fedyk and Treasurer Alex Jackson are more active day to day. I look after PR and arrange social events away from the Club.
Is your club funded in any way and if so, how did you achieve securing these revenue streams?
No it is entirely self-funding. It is my intention to ramp up some fund-raising activity but we have a specific reason for those plans. I’ve attached a piece that explains why we’re keen to do that.
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?
Not as such – we play to 5 -a-side rules generally (not over head height, out of play restarts etc) The Club was based in a council-owned sports hall for almost 3 years but moved this summer to a complex that has its own playing issues (netting to split hall to accommodate other sports) We have always played 3 touch soccer however to improve touch and sharpness
It works in our circumstances though sometimes find the rules at tournaments present their own difficulties, especially for members that played little or no soccer previously.
How many regular players attend each session and how quickly have numbers grown since the club was formed?
We have about 24 members with an average of 15-20 per session. We charge only £3 per week which is very reasonable compared with other Clubs. I think that in our area it encourages non players to give it a try – St Helens is a hot bed for Rugby League. At this point I make reference to my own local team Warrington Wolves purely for the sake of balance!!
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?
There is certainly a change in attitude for some of our players, indeed I’m afraid that I’m probably the single most competitive individual in the Club. It has to be said that some teams I’ve played against have some great players and great fellas too. I play less competitive games now as too often these are played on astro-turf and I have problems in one knee and the opposite hip. Typical football injuries my physio assures me!
Do you feel fitter and healthier since you have started playing Walking Football and if so in which ways?
Yes generally I do feel healthy and fitter since finding walking football. I’m happier I believe with a release valve re-opened. When I was younger I had high pressure stressful jobs, soccer was always my safety valve.
Have you had any injuries playing and if so what were they?
I’ve mentioned the knee problem above – I elected to limit playing week in week out for recovery. Acupuncture and cortisone has helped to manage the condition and I’m back playing relatively unscathed. I did stumble in one game and ended up concussed, with no idea where 20 minutes had passed.
Do you always have a club member present who has had first aid training at your games and training sessions?
We do have one guy who is fully trained and recently helped to save the life of one of our members – see the attached article.
That incident has encouraged us to train more members and look at fund raising to provide equipment for the community for the future.
Has your social life changed since you became involved with Walking Football, and if so in which ways?
I do have new friends that I’ve encountered due to Walking Football. I had a busy life anyway so it hasn’t been life-changing but we do have social outings and enjoy different company than the usual family and friends we tend to gravitate to.
If you could sum up the benefits or enjoyment Walking Football brings you with a single quote, what would that quote be?
Forget the Barclays ad’ this is a chance to enjoy the game that you grew playing, now played at a pace appropriate to your time in life.
What are your best and worst Walking Football memories?
Best memory reaching the Final of Everton in the Community Tournament at Maghull
Worst memory losing on penalties in that tournament.
How else has playing Walking Football affected your life?
I do feel that I have re-enthused my passion for soccer, though I find myself less engaged with the pro game.
What do you like most about Walking Football?
The camaraderie is superb, within our Club we have a real mixture of guys some who have played and were clearly decent players (our oldest player is 78) Others just enjoy the craic and banter.
What do you like least about Walking Football?
I hate cheats who feign injury or run off the ball and act wounded when penalised. Play the game to win but within the noble spirit of the game.
Do you find it difficult NOT to run and what advice could you give someone in how to remain at walking pace?
Personally I adapted quite quickly probably as my knee injury prevented me trying to run. I guess I would encourage them to see there’s nothing to gain by running. A good first touch is as a good as a yard run to paraphrase the old footballing saying.
What are your goals for the future regarding your Walking Football club?
I’d like to see a spreading of administrative duties to lift the burden on our Secretary in particular. I think he finds it hard sometimes as he wasn’t a player in his younger days and has other quite absorbing sporting interests.
We hope to start fund raising in 2019 to provide first aid equipment and defibrillator for other community sports activities.
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?
There’s really no reason to be nervous many of members played little or no soccer since school.
Lets strip the notion that players are elite footballers living out a second life at a more relaxed pace. Its great fun and ticks so many boxes for general health and well-being.
What do your friends and family think about you playing a sport again at your age?
Family and friends have been quite supportive. There might be the odd raised eye whenever I mention the game but at least I’m doing something positive and active! The easiest thing to do is nothing – where does that get you?
What are the costs involved in order for you to play / run your Walking Football club?
Apart from kit which is quite inexpensive we pay £3 per session. Old guys are notoriously difficult to buy presents for so kit makes great sense for Christmas and Birthdays.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Please feel free to use the report & photos on our recent life saving drama.
I do feel that there was a somewhat disingenuous tweet posted recently on walking football twitter feed presumably by the local council regarding this story – read my report for the true story!
Walking Footballer back to thank life-savers
There was an emotional reunion this week at Sutton Leisure Centre. Just 7 days earlier the prompt action of the Leisure Centre’s staff Craig Milligan & Sean Clayton had helped to save the life of walking footballer Peter Adamson.
Peter suffered cardiac arrest during the weekly walking football session. “One minute I’d just finished our first match next minute I was prone on the floor, or so I’m told” Peter learned some time later.
Fellow player Gareth Clarke gave first response CPR action, whilst colleagues alerted Craig & Sean. The Leisure team took over and used a defibrillator to continue the life saving treatment whilst colleague Ben Roberts contacted the Emergency Services & cleared the area for safety. An ambulance team arrived shortly after to prepare Peter for evacuation to Whiston hospital.
He was rushed to Broadgreen for specialist treatment. Later Dr Jay Wright confirmed that Peter owed his life to the prompt attention received at Sutton Leisure. Peter continued,
“I’m so grateful that the guys were there for me.”
The drama has inspired the Walking Football Club to their utmost to raise awareness for more people to equipped to deal with emergencies. Club Secretary Michaylo Fedyk explains; Training will be provided for 4 of our members to become fully qualified first aiders. In the 3 years since our formation we have been involved in tournaments around the North West without incident. So, we are planning to arrange a competition next year to raise funds to provide a Defibrillator for another community project like ours. We offer weekly sessions for over 50s at Sutton Leisure every Wednesday at 7pm, it’s a great way to get active & enjoy this exciting version of the beautiful game”.
St Helens Walking Footballers with Carol & Peter Adamson
Further information contact Club Chairman Peter Fitzpatrick 07799 643 992
Author: The Walking Football
You create the memories; we help you relive them forever!
