Sportscotland Award for WFS Chair
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WFS Chair, Gary McLaughlin with his Scottish Sports Award 2019
Walking Football Scotland is delighted at the well deserved national and international recognition achieved by our Chair, Gary McLaughlin.
Having lifted the UEFA Silver Award a few months ago, Gary completed an incredible double by winning the Sunday Mail/Sportscotland Local Hero Award surrounded by the great and the good of Scottish sport at a star studded ceremony in Glasgow on 6th December.
This is a tremendous achievement considering the thousands of "Local Hero" volunteers who give up so much time, energy and commitment all across Scotland to encourage people of all ages to remain active and achieve their sporting goals.
Congratulations also to Gary's fellow nominees Fraser Johnstone from the Falkirk Junior Bike Club and Aberdeen's David Scott who leads the Fit Like Joggers group.
Many of you have had the pleasure of meeting Gary and experienced his amazing commitment however for those who may not know him, below is a summary of the application submitted by one of the WFS trustees to the Awards judging panel.
"As Chairperson of Walking Football Scotland, Gary McLaughlin has driven the game to massive growth in the last few years. Through the efforts of Gary and Walking Football Scotland (a voluntary, non funded charity), walking football is now one of the fastest growing activities for older people in Scotland with 97 member groups, 150 weekly sessions attracting over 3,500 participants.
Gary travels extensively across Scotland, at his own expense, offering support and advice on creating walking football programmes and has become a local hero in many communities.
The mission that Gary helped create for WFS was "To improve, maintain and promote the physical, mental and social well-being of older adults in Scotland through participation in walking football" and as a result of his efforts thousands of over 50 year olds in Scotland are now reaping the benefits, living far healthier and enriched lives.
In a recent national survey conducted by WFS, over 80% of participants showed significant improvements in general fitness, weight loss, mental health, increased friendships and social connectedness.
On securing Scottish charitable status for Walking Football Scotland, Gary led his fellow trustees in ensuring all appropriate governance and financial procedures were in place and a dynamic strategic plan was developed, outlining the group’s aims and objectives thereby creating a lead body for the sport.
He has also set up various sub-committees and chaired these groups looking to establish rules to play the game that ensured walking football was enjoyable, all inclusive and safe.
Additionally he has led WFS to many achievements and successful partnerships with the Scottish FA, Active Scotland, Age Scotland, Paths for All and charity partner Prostate Cancer UK. Recently he has addressed conferences across the UK including Headway, Drinkaware, SAMH, Scottish Football Museum, Football Memories to name a few and is a tireless ambassador for the benefits of walking football.
Personally, having been involved professionally for almost 30 years in sports development and facility/events management, Gary is one of the most committed individuals I have ever met. For a man now in his sixties, he has more energy and enthusiasm than many younger professionals and almost single-handed has raised the profile and participation in walking football amongst an older, initially difficult to reach, group of adults that many full time sporting organisations have failed to engage with."
