WFS SCOTTISH CUP & FESTIVAL 2023

On Saturday 24th June, 76 football teams came together to take part in the biggest one-day walking football festival in the world – the WFS Scottish Cup and Festival 2023.

The event, organised sponsored by leading Scottish health charity Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland took place at Glasgow Green Football Centre, with just under 800 players from across Scotland competing in the tournament across various categories.

Earlier this month, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and Walking Football Scotland announced a partnership that will see the two charities working together to improve health outcomes for over fifties across Scotland.

In partnership with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, we hope to grow the game even more over the next year and ensure thousands of Scots can enjoy the health benefits of this beautiful game.

More than 9,000 people have a stroke in Scotland every year. Incidences of heart attack are even higher, with 11,000 people in Scotland having a heart attack in 2022. 97 per cent of these occurred in people aged 45 or over.

Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto MSP welcomed participants to the event alongside representatives of WFS and CHSS.

WALKING FOOTBALL WINNERS

The winning teams across each category were as follows:

Over 40s Women's - Braehead FC (defeating Linlithgow Rose CFC)

Over 50s - Pollok Utd (defeating Saint Anthony’s)

Over 60s - Ayr Utd (defeating Glasgow Life)

Over 65s - North Lanarkshire Council

Over 70s - North Lanarkshire Council

Peter Collins Fair Play Award – Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland

Winners were presented with their trophies and medals by Scottish Women's Football chair Vivienne McLaren and Walking Football patron, Rose Reilly MBE.

Paul Okroj, Director of External Engagement at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland said: “It is fantastic to see so many people turn out to take part in this year’s Walking Football Scottish Cup to make it the biggest event of its kind.

“At Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland we want to improve health outcomes for people across the country who are at risk of stroke and heart disease. Working in partnership with Walking Football Scotland we can further promote the benefits of exercise at all ages, as well as offering simple but essential health checks via Walking Football clubs across the country.

“Events such as today are a wonderful opportunity to raise the awareness of the physical, social and mental health benefits of keeping active and moving more in a way that works for each individual.”

Walking Football Scotland President Kenny McLean said: “We’re delighted to have grown the Scottish Cup into the biggest single-day walking football event in the world. The atmosphere on Saturday was fantastic, with teams from all across Scotland, enjoying a great day. There were winners who took home the trophies but the joy of the day is taking part, and all our teams went home winners in our eyes.

“For some older people Walking Football is their only chance to get out of the house and socialise, it’s massive for their mental health as well as their physical. In partnership with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, we hope to grow the game even more over the next year and ensure thousands of Scots can enjoy the health benefits of this beautiful game.”

Walking Football Scotland would like to thank the following for their support: AlphaMed Scotland, AudioCP, Glasgow Life, RJM Sports, Sporting Memories Scotland, St John Scotland, Derek Anderson and Photographs - andyjmatherphotography

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