Everybody Walking Football – Come join us
The Everybody Sport & Recreation Trust have developed Walking Football sessions in the Crewe, Nantwich, Shavington and Cheshire East areas, with the support of the Cheshire FA, Cheshire Walking Football Group & Active Cheshire.
The long standing group of participants that play at the Barony Sports Complex, Nantwich, have just recently represented the Crewe Alexandra Football Club in the Football League Trusts National Walking Football Tournament.
The Barony Walking Football Group entered this tournament representing Crewe Alexandra FC last year and made it to the finals at St. Georges Park, so when asked if they would like to enter this again the team were happy to put the Crewe Alexandra shirt on again,
This year the Regional Tournament was in Derbyshire competing against regional football clubs such as Derby County FC, Nottingham Forest FC, Coventry City FC & Wolves FC.
Sadly this year the team didn’t progress through to the National Final at St. Georges Park but they played nice football and in good spirit.
The Barony Walking Football Group have been having success in the Cheshire FA’s Walking Football League where they are currently sat top of the table and 5 points clear.
Lee Malkin, Community and Participation Manager at Everybody Sport and Recreation commented,
“In the Championship Division of the Cheshire Walking Football April League Nantwich Barony look a good bet to return to the Premier Division, leading the table by 5 points!
All of our walking football sessions are open to beginners, people who have never played the game before, people who just want to come down and have a laugh with mates, or for those who have had an injury or health condition who are looking to get back fit.”
Phil Van Schitndel, 66 from Sandbach has been playing for the Barony Walking Football Team for the last two years. He started playing after being referred during a rehab programme due to him having a muscular and joint condition. He feels that the game and the friends he has made along the way has bought a new dimension to his life, he commented,
“Walking football has made a huge difference to my life, after six weeks of joining the team I was able to stop smoking, it gave me the motivation I needed to start leading a more active and healthy lifestyle. Our players travel from as far as Northwich to play and we are always looking for new people to come and join us. Everyone is so supportive of each other, whatever the reason you want to get back to football everyone takes it at their own pace and we play to your strengths.
“Our weekly sessions are a really enjoyable way of keeping fit alongside a really friendly group of players. The monthly League is a little extra for those who like a bit more competition and the National Tournament at Derby was a special day where we were proud to represent Crewe Alexandra.”
There are over 600 walking football sessions in the UK, with 7 of those happening across Cheshire East with the help of Everybody Sport and Recreation and the Cheshire FA. The popularity of the game just keeps on growing and although the title suggests a slower pace compared to a standard game of football, it certainly is no walk in the park! The game has been designed for over 50’s to help them get back into playing sport, keeping healthy and active and more importantly socialising with friends. The competitiveness of the sport lives on and it certainly gets participants moving around the pitch.
The sessions currently running in Cheshire East are as follows:
- Barony Sports Complex 3G pitch – Mondays 3.00-4.00pm & Wednesdays 3.45-3.45pm
- Shavington Leisure Centre Astro Turf Pitch – Tuesdays 5.00-6.00pm
- Crewe Lifestyle Centre Sports Hall – Wednesdays 10.00-11.00am
- Holmes Chapel Leisure Centre – Wednesdays 6.00-7.00pm
- Knutsford Leisure Centre – Tuesdays 8.30-9.30pm
- Wilmslow Leisure Centre- Mondays 9.00-10.00pm
- Middlewich Leisure Centre – Mondays 6.30-7.30pm
They all cost £3 per session and you just need to come in appropriate footwear and we recommend you bring some water. For more information visit our Walking Football pages.