Marlborough’s Walking Football has changed day, location and time for the new season. Now on a Monday evening between 6 and 7pm in the Sports Hall, bad weather isn’t a problem and the time is far more convenient for most players.
Walking Football, as one of the ‘Walking Sports’ is becoming ever more popular as a way of creating regular exercise, whilst also adding a social dimension as well. Encouraged by Wiltshire Council as a way of improving the health of the community, there are now tournaments and leagues cropping up so maybe Marlborough’s Walking Football team will start to emulate the success of Marlborough’s other ‘conventional’ football teams.
Now in its second year, Marlborough’s Walking Football sessions started with just ten players in September last year, playing Thursday lunchtimes on the Marlborough Leisure Centre.
That number has grown massively and organiser and coach, Keith Marshall now counts up to fifty or so participants who will turn up and play, not necessarily that number every week, but enough to run fun and lively sessions.
What has it done for some of the players who might otherwise have been ‘vegging’ elsewhere? Regular player Tim Maycock answered that question: “Discovering walking football has redefined my retirement – what a breath of fresh air!! ”Not only have I an unexpected second chance at playing the game I game I love, but also I have made so many new friends… Viva walking football!!”
Fellow player Brian Mcklintock added: “I have always loved team sports and disliked solitary sports. Before I started Walking Football, I thought it would be for old men and a bit of a joke. How wrong could I be? I am fitter than I have been in years, rediscovering old skills, found old friends as well as new ones, just what I needed. I really look forward to playing each week.”
And Alan Taylor-Wheeler commented: ”At 50+ it’s a fantastic opportunity to play the game you love, if you think your past it – your not, re-live those golden days. Football for over 50’s at any level, just join in and the enjoy game nothing too serious, great company, great laugh.”
Walking Football can offer a route back to fitness for those recovering from serious illness. One regular attendee, who asked not to named, spelt out exactly how the Walking Football sessions had helped his recovery, physically but also in other ways as well: ”I was diagnosed with tongue based cancer a few years ago. I had surgery followed by a month of radiotherapy along with chemotherapy. I am now in remission and doing well. As well as many other people, I didn’t think I would still be playing football at my age, but more than that I didn’t think I would still be around. The walking football helped me back to fitness physically but more importantly it helped me mentally. It gave me something to look forward to each week and focus on.”
Unlike most Walking Football across Wiltshire, the Marlborough session benefits from an association with Marlborough Youth FC. Keith Marshall, a coach with MYFC points out that players can register free of charge with the Youth Football club, and benefit from the Club’s own Insurance, as well as that provided by Wiltshire Walking Football. It is a great way also of integrating the whole family ethos into MYFC, with some of the walking Footballers being parents of MYFC players and in some instances Grandparents!!
Sessions are on a turn up, pay and play basis and cost £2.50 each time. Organiser Keith adds: ”Don’t worry if you can’t make it every week, just stick your shorts and trainers on and come and join us. It is a great way to stay fit and make new friends.