WALKING Football is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK with new sessions starting up every week across the country – and Melksham has its own thriving club!
“And yes, most people do ask ‘walking’ football?’, but don’t knock it until you try it!” says Russ Hillier from Melksham Walking Football Club. “Recreational sessions are a great opportunity to meet new people, keep fit, have fun and get back to playing, with a lot less risk of injury.”
Recreational walking football sessions are held weekly – a ladies recreational session is held at Melksham Oak School, Tuesdays 6-7pm; and a mixed recreational session is held at Wiltshire FA headquarters in Devizes, Fridays, 7-8pm.
“As with many great stories, the beginnings of our club started in a bar in Villamoura, Portugal!” says Russ.
“Whilst at an international tournament, discussions began about commencing a ladies’ recreational session in Wiltshire and the decision was made to gauge interest.
“A notice was put out on ‘Sham Shout Out’ and a staggering 50 responses were received in two days from interested ladies. On returning to the UK, Melksham Walking Football Club was formed within a couple of weeks and the first ladies’ session was organised for 18th October 2019. Many of the ladies that attended that first session still play for the club.
“With the success of the ladies’ section, the demand for over 50s men’s sessions grew rapidly, and within just a few weeks the first men’s and mixed recreational sessions were underway.
“These sessions were very well attended from the outset, right up until Covid struck. After the limited lifting of lockdown restrictions, fun training sessions commenced on grass in small groups until such time as facilities reopened and weekly sessions commenced again in March 2021.
“Currently ladies’ sessions see numbers of between 10-16 and mixed sessions from 20-36 players each week, with new members regularly joining.”
Melksham Walking Football Club also has competitive walking football teams, competing in three different leagues – Over 40s Ladies’ teams, Over 50s teams and Over 60s teams.
“Once they start, many players choose to try out for the competitive teams that compete in local, regional, national and international tournaments,” explains Russ. “Some club players have also been selected for national teams.
“In 2020 the Over 50s Men and Over 40s Ladies both competed in the inaugural Wiltshire County Walking Football League in Devizes, with Ladies competing in the Men’s Over 60s group, gaining a lot of valuable experience, whilst the Men finished mid table.
“The Wiltshire County Walking Football League commences again on the 24th April with MWFC entering five teams.
“2022 has seem some great achievements already for the Club: Men Over 50s – Caldicot Tournament – Winners; Men Over 50s – C.R.A.P. Tournament – Runners Up; Men Over 50s – Stanley Park Rangers Tournament – Winners; Women Over 40s – Caldicot Tournament – Runners Up; Women Over 40s – Thames Valley League Top of the Division after two fixtures.”
Anyone interested in joining can visit the Melksham Walking Football Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/2751297058289081; email melkshamwf@gmail.com; or call Russ Hillier on 07881 620961.
