AGM | Gary McLaughlin
/Walking Football Scotland held their Annual General Meeting at Hampden Park, Glasgow on Friday 26th November.
Hosted by the Scottish FA, there was wide representation from member groups attending in person and joining by Zoom.
The meeting was chaired by retiring Chair, Gary McLaughlin. Gary was the first chair of Walking Football Scotland and the meeting put on record their heartfelt thanks and debt of gratitude to Gary for his service to walking football in Scotland. The meeting heard of the hard work and personal sacrifices made by Gary and his family in support of walking football. Gary is a leader in the promotion of the physical and mental health benefits, social inclusion and participation by older adults in a sport which delivers thousands of hours of activity leading to increased preventative health outcomes across Scotland.
In March 2017 Walking Football Scotland was formed with Gary McLaughlin elected Chair along with five other Trustees.
For over four and a half years Gary has worked tirelessly to promote, develop and improve access to walking football throughout Scotland which also included attending and presenting at several conferences across the UK, highlighting the benefits of walking football to the wider community.
Listed below are just a few of the iniatives he has been heavily involved in:
2017:
• Appointed Chair of WFS
• Led the development of WFS's Aims and Objectives, Governance and Strategic Development Plans
• Inaugural WF National League starts at Ravenscraig supported by North Lanarkshire Leisure. 10 teams enter and play monthly through to November.
• Third national WF tournament held at Glasgow Green. 32 teams enter.
• Achieve charitable status (Scottish Charity No: SC047709)
• Affiliated to AgeScotland.
• Official launch at The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum.
• Website goes live along with Facebook and Twitter accounts.
• Craig Brown and Rose Reilly appointed as Scottish ambassadors for walking football.
2018:
• Creation of strong non-commercial partnerships with Scottish Government, Scottish Football Association, Age Scotland, Paths For All, SAMH and SPFL Trust
• Partnership with Cardiac Science Defibrillators announced.
• Walking Football Scotland win the Age Scotland Jess Barrow Award for Campaigning and Influencing.
• First Scottish all-women walking football event takes place in Perth involving teams from Montrose and Perth
• Announce Charity partnership with Prostate Cancer UK.
• 4th Annual National Cup & Festival attracts a record 56 teams and over 500 participants.
• WFS is one of the first sports bodies to sign up to SAMH mental health charter.
• Creates new partnership with Drinkaware
• First ever national tournament for participants aged over 65
• First WFS Annual General Meeting at Hampden Park
2019:
• 5th Annual National Cup & Festival attracts over 700 participants - largest walking football event in the world to date.
• Gary receives UEFA Silver Award for services to football.
• Conducted National Survey amongst participants on the lifestyle benefits of walking football
• Gary wins Sportscotland/Sunday Mail Local Hero award for services to walking football.
2020:
• Leads WFS board through pandemic lockdown through regular video conferences, phone calls etc
• Liaised with SFA and Scottish Government and issued regular updates to member groups on all lockdown changes
• Throughout lockdown restrictions, regularly promoted health and social messages on areas such as Mental Health, Drink Aware, General Fitness, CPR, etc. through WFS media platforms
• Chaired regional video conferences with representatives of affiliated groups
2021:
• Chaired a Covid-delayed 2020 AGM online through a nationwide video conference
• Advised on "The Return to Play" following lockdown easing to affiliated groups
• Heavily involved in the planning and delivery of the first regional leagues at both over 50 and 65 age group
• Continued to engage with NHS Scotland to create links in their Social Prescribing/Rehabilitation programme into walking football.
• Delivered pilot Education Pathway course for eventual national roll out
• Retired as Chair on 26th November 2021
Following the AGM, Trustees presented a token of their thanks and appreciation to Gary and his wife Elizabeth in their support of the Charity.
Gary is seen here with incoming Chair, David Hyland who moves from his role of treasurer, with newly appointed trustee Gordon McAllister taking up the role of treasurer.
