Harrogate Strays Over 70s walking football team is looking forward to the forthcoming winter season after drawing a close to the last on a high.

The winter campaign starts on September 16 and will see Harrogate Strays facing two teams that have come down from league two and a raft of players in Panthers who know how to play.

Spokesperson for the Harrogate club, Paul Rogers said of the spring season performance and winning spot: “The GMWFL is a great league with strong teams, and holding that league trophy was a proud moment for the Strays squad.

“With 16 games played our final standings were: played 16, won 13, drew three, lost 0, goal difference of 23 on 42 points, 13 ahead of Curzon in second place and also promoted to League Three.

“Our teamwork, fitness, discipline, and a relentless never say die attitude has underpinned every performance.”

Harrogate Strays Over 70s walking football team is looking forward to the forthcoming winter season after drawing a close to the last on a high.
The winter campaign starts on September 16 and will see Harrogate Strays facing two teams that have come down from league two and a raft of players in Panthers who know how to play... — Pic credit: Paul Rogers

Harrogate Strays Walking Football Club was formed by a core of experienced walking footballers to play competitive football, but also to introduce players to the great game and to allow less competitive players to play at a level that suits them.

It welcomes female players 0ver 40 and men over 50.

Paul added: “We currently have teams at over 60, over 65 and over 70, with our over 60s and 65s playing in the Northern Premier League (NPL) and our over 70’s playing in the NCLA and GMWFL, all age groups entered into the WFA and WFLA National Cups.

“We welcome friendly fixtures with teams within reasonable travelling distance of Harrogate.

“We are affiliated to the Football Association (West Riding County FA) and the Walking Football Association (WFA) and we are England Accredited, demonstrating that we have policies and procedures in place to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all our players, coaches, referees and opponents.”

In July the Over 70s team played in the GMWFL Division 4, Round 4 against Heywood for the penultimate game of the spring season.

The squad came to session four of league four hoping to secure the league title at the first time of asking to gain promotion to league three and so it proved, securing four from four and conceding nil.

Paul added: “To be awarded a league championship trophy in our first season, especially in the manner we did it by not losing a single game and conceding only one goal from outfield play in 16 games was simply astonishing, well done to all the squad.

“Along the way we met very worthy opponents who played the game in the right way so all credit to them also, we made more football family friends.”

Strays 1 – 0 Fleetwood Town

Derek Rowe put out a shape to hold Fleetwood with John Rhodes and Val Warwrosz playing wide either side of Tony Breslin in order to play a 1-1-3-1 and Pyle as the attacking midfielder in a holding role, Sparrow as the Anchor and Rogers in goal playing a sweeper position for fast outball’s to feet, with Rowe and Keightley in reserve.

To Fleetwood’s credit they showed stiffer resilience this time out and fought us well, in the second half our only goal came as a result of a penalty for box infringement (This is a trait at GMWFL as the area is large), Val stepping up to secure the goal.

Both sides competed well, but Strays remained composed and disciplined to play out the game for an opening win and a great start to the day to put points on the Board.

Strays 4 – 0 Moston Brook

Strays were determined to up the ante in this next game in order to put distance between Strays and Curzon, Strays learnt from the way Moston Brook played last time out that Derek Rowe would have to develop a different plan to create a faster press, and it showed.

They pushed relentlessly for the opener, with Tony Breslin bagging the opener across the goal from far out, Tony nicking a second just before half time to enable the team to relax

After the break Moston grew into the game and pegged us back into our own half, this allowed John Rhodes to break down their press moving to the left to craft a goal into the bottom corner of quality.

With four minutes remaining, Rowe made a tactical switch to a 1 3 2 formation to stem any pressure coming from Moston and reassert our press resulting in a fourth and Tony Breslin Hat trick. Despite late efforts from Moston, Stray played the game out to a good win.

Strays 1 – 0 Curzon Ashton

This game was a must win, against wat has proven to be a very, very worthy opponent with Curzon being the main threat all season and clearly wanting to claim a win against in the final outing.

At the very off Stray found the pace of their forward line difficult to contend with, earning a very quick infringement where both Dave Sparrow had his hands full and Rogers having to deal with a number of attempts.

At half time and with Curzon clearly on top Derek Rowe had to find a response to curtail their shape and movement, so straight out of the UEFA “B level” tactical manual a change to a 1 2 2 1 formation saw Val go to the left as a double attacking outlet with Breslin whilst Rowe and Pyle congested the centre to deny Curzon progression.

This press resulted in a penalty infringement where Val slotted home, the team playing possession in order to secure the points and the league title.

Strays 2 – 0 Wakefield Wanderers

With Strays sitting on three wins and Wakefield determined to spoil Harrogate’s day calm needed to be maintained.

Off came John Rhodes and Val Wawrosz replaced by Rowe and Keightley with fresh legs and so the goal came from a lovely five-man passing move for Keightley to keep it low and hard to give u the lead

Even though the sides were evenly matched, Strays were edging the attacking exchanges with Tony Breslin snatching a second late on to put the game to bed

A double change In the last five minutes held the play to gain all four wins and nil conceded on the day.

Squad – Paul Rogers (GK), Steve Simpson (GK) David Sparrow, Mike Pyle (C), Paddy Keightley, Val Wawrosz, Derek Rowe, Tony Breslin, John Rhodes.

Source: https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/strays-supreme-win-the-league-8991203