Football Really Is For Life
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Presentation of the Walking Football Scotland Scottish Cups
l-r Craig Brown, Willie Carroll Raith Rovers, Bill McConnell Kirkcaldy and Gary McLaughlin WFS Chair
Scottish Champions Over 50’s Raith Rovers (Blue) and Over 65’s Kirkcaldy (White) with Craig Brown and WFS Chair Gary McLaughlin
Another fantastic day at the Walking Football Scotland Scottish Cup and Festival, held on Glasgow Green, Saturday June 29. The weather was kind to us and this added to the slick and meticulous planning by our Glasgow Sport hosts.
Our thanks to the Minister of Public Health and Sport, Joe FitzPatrick MSP for his support in kicking off this year’s Festival and Bailie James Scanlan of Glasgow City Council for his warm welcome.
Joe FitzPatrick MSP, Minister for Public Health and Sport
Bailie James Scanlan
The event - which we believe to be the biggest of its kind in the walking football world – was enjoyed by over 700 players competing in the Cups and the Friendly Festival. It was great to have Andy Gould, Head of Football Development at the Scottish FA along with us on the day and it was extra special to have Scottish Football Legend and our Patron Craig Brown enjoying the occasion and presenting the trophies. A very special mention goes to Glasgow Sport and Matt Ramsay in particular for hosting such a celebration of walking football.
Walking Football Scotland Chairman Gary McLaughlin said: “We are absolutely delighted with the Event today. The players turned out in the hundreds to support us. They travelled from the far North of Scotland down to the Borders. Glasgow Green was jumping today. Everything was so good, weather was fantastic, the competition although keen was played in an exceptionally sporting manner and I am so proud to see Walking Football developing and engaging so many as WFS strive, to play our part in making and keeping Scotland an Active Nation through Sport.”
A total of 32 teams took part in the Scottish Cup for the Over 50’s with Raith Rovers being crowned Scottish Champions, defeating Heart of Midlothian in a penalty shoot out in the final. The Inaugural Over 65’s Scottish Cup had 8 teams competing for the trophy and worthy winners Kirkcaldy defeated East Kilbride Gerihatricks in a similar nail biting penalty shoot out. The non-competitive Friendly Festival had 32 entrants signed up to play walking football at its purest.
We were delighted St John Scotland could join us and they put on CPR and Defibrillator displays throughout the day. These proved to be popular with our participants and Prostate Cancer UK were always visible in their gazebo where everyone was made welcome and made more informed about the disease.
Liz Crawford Projects Officer with St John Scotland teaching Minister Joe FitzPatrick and WFS Trustees Gary McLaughlin and Vivian Wallace some CPR.
Other partners were there to enjoy and add their support to the event, Cardiac Science and great to see Prostate Cancer UK, SAMH, Active Scotland, The Salvation Army and the Scottish FA all field teams in the Festival.
The Prostate Cancer UK team met up with Minister Joe FitzPatrick at the Festival on Saturday.
Planning will start soon on next year’s Walking Football Scotland Scottish Cup and Festival. Keep a look out; please as we will be contacting teams looking for your feedback on the day. We need your opinions and views if we hope to improve going forward.
We look forward to seeing you next year!
Photographs courtesy of Glasgow City and Helen Hyland
Click on the image below to see more photographs from the day.
Keeping true to the spirit of walking football, Walking Football Scotland have always awarded a Fair Play Award to a team in the Festival and this years worthy winners were Midlothian Ladies.
This year the Board of Trustees decided to put up a Fair Play award for the competitive competition in memory of Peter Collins.
Peter was a man who was passionate about his walking football and was a great ambassador for the sport. He was always helpful, cheerful and nothing was a trouble for him. He was at the forefront of walking football when it was first played in Scotland and became recognisable as the smiling face of walking football. When asked as he often was, about getting back to playing football, he would say to everyone that it is “Wonderful” and go on to tell you it was mainly because of the fitness, the social side and the football banter. He would usually smile and remind you that he still enjoyed saving some cracking shots aimed at his goal. It is our small tribute to a gentleman a friend and colleague.
The Peter Collins Award for Fair Play will be an annual event and the first winners are Linlithgow Rose walking football Club.
Linlithgow Rose Winners of the Peter Collins Award for Fair play in the competitive Scottish Cup.
David Callaghan receives the trophy from Craig Brown and WFS Trustee Vivian Wallace
Midlothian Ladies winners of the Fair Play Award in the Festival with Craig Brown and WFS Trustee Vivian Wallace
