A club at the heart of it’s community and Walking Football

I could not be more proud of my club, Abbeymead Rovers FC. As a founder member and Chairman for 21 years, now President, I am amazed to see the club has grown in its 27 years from 6 teams to nearly 60. The club was quite rightly recognised as Gloucestershire FA Community Club Award and The Walking Football Association Impairment Team of the Year for the Abbeymead Rovers Walking Football Pirates. 

What a club – there is 80 years difference between the youngest 3 year old pre-school MiniMead and the oldest Walking Footballer Brian at 83.  A club truly at the heart of its community.  The Walking Football section now boasts nearly 200 members, runs 5 sessions a week including the Impairment group and a women’s group.

David Brown is 82.  He has attended the Abbeymead Rovers FC Impairment Walking Football session, The Pirates, for 2 years. He has claudication - Pain, commonly in the legs, caused by too little blood flow, usually during exercise. Often indicates peripheral artery disease. He was due to have an operation called angioplasty- but this was felt to be too risky.  However, when David told his consultant and surgeon that he played walking football they were amazed. They all told him that this was such a fantastic sport for people with his and other conditions. David might have to sit out some of every session, but at 82 and with claudication, he is playing walking football every week with a big smile on his face. He regularly scores and is a great role model and proof that staying active in your older years is good for you

Bob is 82 and has just been called into playing for the WFA Over 80s Southern Regional team.  Bob has a pacemaker fitted and has just recovered from skin cancer.  He plays in goal and throws himself around like a teenager. 

Danny Ward, who is the Over 75s England Manager has started running regional games for the North and the South at Over 80.  Yes, Over 80.  We have also been in touch with the Chelsea Pensioners who are keen to organise an exhibition match against a WFA select Over 80s team, which would be a fantastic occasion.  At the World Nations Cup in 2023 a select Over 80s team played against England Over 75s in and exhibition match.  How fantastic is it, that people are playing and enjoying our wonderful sport into their 80s and playing at a good level.  It just goes to show how inclusive the game is and how it is contribution to healthy and happy lifestyles.  Pushing the boundaries of age is going hand-in-hand with impairment Walking Football at getting more and more people up, out and active.  We all know that keeping active for as long as possible is good for your health and can increase the amount of time a person can be independent – in these troublesome times, it is also good for the NHS – keeping fit and active is the best medicine and we have noticed an increase in Social Prescription.  Just like David, people are being recommended to play the game and stay active for a long as possible. 

Come join the Walking Revolution – Get up, Get out, Get active.   Fun Friendship Fitness