WILTSHIRE Walking Football FC is preparing to take part in the national finals of the FA People’s Cup.
The team, who train at Stanley Park in Chippenham, has 50 members who come from walking groups who meet across Wiltshire, including Westbury.
Last month, they defeated 2017 champions, Woking, in their semi-final, earning them a place in the top 8 teams out of 200 across the UK.
Team captain, Tony Norton, who scored the winning goal in the semi-final, said, “On the weekend of April 28th and 29th, we travel to St Georges Park, home of the England Team to take part in the National Final where we will fight it out to be the 2018 FA People’s Cup Walking Football champions.
“This year we will also take two teams to Almelo, Holland in May for the European team tournament and we will be the first English team to take a female player. The team will travel with 18 players and 14 partners.
There are 14 walking football sessions a week across the county, with 470 registered players and an average of 800 attendees a month. Westbury walking football is held every second Tuesday at the Leighton Recreation Centre from 8pm until 9pm.
Walking football is open to anyone over 50, regardless of ability, and it provides a great way to become active, tackle loneliness and play a team sport again. The next session is scheduled for Tuesday 24th April, and costs £2. Contact lead volunteer and organiser Tony Norton for more information by email wiltshirewalkingfootball@ aol.co.uk.
