As part of Life Leisure’s community fitness programme ‘I Wish I’d Tried’, a new football project aimed at encouraging older and less active people back into the sport, is taking off in a big way in Stockport.
Walking football, a slower version of the beautiful game, came out as one of the top ‘I wish I’d Tried’ activities that the people of Stockport wanted to take part in and Life Leisure are rolling out regular sessions at venues across Stockport.
Left: Walking Football at Life Leisure Houldworth Village, Reddish
Ross McGuigan Adult Participation Officer at Life Leisure said:
“This is a relatively new sport and it’s just brilliant. It appeals to lots of different people both men and women, some have played football in their younger years, but for many it is a great way to get more mobile and back into a fun sporting environment. Most players are over 40, some in fact, are over 80, so there’s nothing to stop anyone joining in. It’s great for older people, those with mobility issues or people just getting back into exercise. The emphasis is on having fun, its football, but just at a slower pace.
“The sessions are coached by qualified coach Paul Johnson. They start with a 10 minute warm up, then continue onto practicing skills such as passing the ball and finish with a game. The rules are as per 5-a-side but with one difference, you can’t run! When the matches get underway it can get fairly competitive especially amongst the ‘younger’ players.”
Some of the players have not kicked a ball for 40 years! …
Fred Fearon (78) from Haughton Green, say’s walking football is fun with a capital F!
Lisa and her partner Derek from Cheadle Heath play walking football together; she has never played football before, but is loving every minute of her new found sport. They both say they are feeling so much better and fitter from taking part in the weekly sessions..
Peter Deakin (75) from Edgeley has discovered walking football through the PARiS exercise referral scheme. A former keen hockey player, Peter confesses that he had let his fitness go, to the point where he could barely walk!
The one-hour sessions are just £1 per week …
and anyone can sign up for free. Weekly sessions are now running at Stockport Sports Village on Wednesdays at 11am, Houldsworth Village on Mondays at 11am, Reddish North Football Club on Wednesdays at 2pm and Life Leisure Dialstone in Offerton on Wednesdays at 8.30pm.
For full details about joining a walking football session please visit www.lifeleisure.net or call Ross McGuigan on 0161 482 0924
Walking Football at Life Leisure Houldworth Village, Reddish