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It’s a return to league action for our O40’s Women’s Premiership this coming Sunday at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility.
Linlithgow Rose CFC - Whites will be looking to build on their impressive unbeaten start to the league however will face tough opposition in the form of current league champions Braehead - Navy and also last year’s Scottish Cup Winners, Giffnock SC.
We wish all teams the very best and look forward in welcoming you to Wishaw this Sunday.
Recently, there has been discussion on social media and in person about WFS forming a national team. The following is a statement on the matter from WFS President, Kenny McLean.
“Walking Football Scotland (WFS) is a registered charitable organisation whose mission is to improve, maintain and promote the physical, mental and social wellbeing of older adults through walking football. Our governance is by a Board of 9 Trustees who all act on a voluntary basis. We have approximately 140 clubs/groups affiliated to us who benefit from our support by way of equipment, education, promotion of their sessions and the opportunity to participate in our Regional & National league & cup competitions and that number of clubs continues to grow exponentially.
We are affiliated to the Scottish Football Association by being recognised as a game leader of our discipline through Scottish Para-Football. We are not a governing body, but a supportive charitable organisation focussed on enhancing the lives of older adults through participation in walking football.
Our organisation is held in high esteem and has received many plaudits from the SFA, European Football for Development Network (EFDN) and many British & European clubs. In 2018, we were awarded the Age Scotland Jess Barrow Award for Campaigning and Influencing and in the following year our past Chair, Gary McLaughlin, received the UEFA Silver Award for services to football.
There are a number of walking football associations and federations out with Scotland who do not have a connection to any of the official FA’s, like we do. WFS are not affiliated to, nor recognise these walking football associations & federations, but instead recognise the official governing bodies across Europe, by working closely with EFDN and the Scottish FA.
Recently, it has been suggested that WFS is not interested in, or does not support the idea of, a Scottish national team. This is not the case, but those who are commenting may not have thought through the process of organising a national team.
WFS has, in the past, explored the formation of a national squad, but were advised that the organisation & co-ordination of same was not financially viable for a charitable organisation at that time. However, with the ever increasing interest in walking football, and in our charity, by UEFA & EFDN, there may be more funding, support and infrastructure available to allow us to pursue a regional set up, at least, thus leading to a national structure.
But the formation of a national team has to be fair to all participants throughout Scotland as a national team must be truly representative of the country, which is where the difficulties arise. Who selects a national squad and how do we achieve that? Who do we appoint to manage and train a national squad and whereabouts is that conducted? Then there are the financial implications; kit, travel, venues, insurance, medical support (Doctor, Physio, etc).
So, in conclusion, I hope you can be patient with regards to the formation of a national team. WFS will, in due course, look towards the formation of regional teams, which may be a slightly easier task and, depending on its success & viability, look towards a national set-up.
In the meantime, I believe we have to prioritise our resources and be able to support and deliver for the majority of participants across the country. WFS strive to put emphasis on improving fitness, physical and mental health benefits and reducing social isolation. I hope you continue to support us as we make walking football safe and open to all, appreciating its many positive connections and enjoy participating in the sport now and for many years to come.
Yours in walking football,
Kenny McLean, President, Walking Football Scotland”
Can you help our charity partners, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland with a great volunteering opportunity for you, or members at your club, with a simple role that can be done at home?
The role is called CHSS Community Connectors, aimed at people who have busy lives but would still like to contribute.
CHSS ask volunteers to complete small tasks such as sharing social media posts and completing surveys.
To learn more about the role - click here and become a CHSS Community Connector - https://volunteer.chss.org.uk/opportunities/51700-chss-community-connector-2023-08-09
It was a return to league action for our Over 50’s today for the penultimate round of fixtures within the East and West Premiership and Championship.
No league champions have been finalised yet with it all still to play for in the final round in October.
In the East, Arbroath are in in top Premiership spot but Hearts have a game in hand and Oriam, occupying the final Champions League spot, play both teams respectively in what could be a tense final few matches.
In the East Championship, Dundee Utd have continued their impressive league display and remain unbeaten as they go into the final round of fixtures, however they will face 2nd, 3rd and 4th place teams where we could have a twist in the tale.
In the West Premiership, Giffnock SC Auld Timers were the big winners today with 3 wins putting them top of the league, 3 points ahead with a game in hand. An incredible tight league which could go either way for the top 3 Champions League spots, but certainly Giffnock are in the driving seat leading the pack.
In the West Championship, Whitletts Vics only need 1 more win to be crowned Champions and promoted to the Premiership, with a couple of teams chasing that final promotion place also.
We look forward in seeing you for the final round of fixtures with East on 1st October and West on 29th October.
east premiership table
east premiership results
east championship table
east championship results
west premiership table
west premiership results
west championship table
west championship results
A busy past week of teams taking part in events, education workshops and also our Reps out seeing clubs in their weekly sessions.
There have been visits to; Aberdeen Strikers, Falkirk Foundation, Fairfield/St James, John Sutton Community Club
We are delighted to welcome newly affiliated club John Sutton Community Club, which sees the former Hearts and Motherwell player commence a new venture in Glasgow. With up to 20 players already attending we welcome them to the walking football family and wish them all the very best with their sessions the West of the country.
The past week saw Glasgow Life host their annual Over 60’s Glasgow Cup event which saw 24 teams take part at Toryglen Regional Football Centre. North Lanarkshire Council were victorious, picking up the trophy after defeating Dundee Utd, 3-0 in the final.
We appreciate the opportunity to get to visit our affiliated clubs across the country as well as provide you with a set of our WFS bibs to support your sessions.
wfs regional rep john young & john sutton community club
wfs regional rep john young & john sutton
wfs regional rep clare mccosh with alloa athletic
wfs regional rep mike burnett & aberdeen strikers
fairfield & st james
wfs regional rep bill sharp alongside president kenny mclean & falkirk Foundation
over 60’s glasgow cup
north lanarkshire council winners of over 60’s glasgow cup presented by tom boyd
Today, Walking Football Scotland took the Education Workshop to Strikers Indoor Football Complex, Aberdeen, where 40 members attended.
The workshop was delivered by WFS Trustee, Matt Ramsay, and gave much opportunity for attendees to share personal experience of the impact walking football has had on their lives as well as develop their knowledge of everything WFS.
Walking Football Scotland are indebted to the staff at Strikers and players for the use of their excellent facilities and the provision of refreshments. We would also extend our gratitude to our Regional Representative, Mike Burnett, and venue Director Pauline Smith for their assistance throughout the day.
With the support of the Scottish FA Referee Association, we are delighted to be hosting our first Walking Football Referee Education Workshop which will take place on Friday 1st September (10.30-1pm) at Toryglen Regional Football Centre.
Without our referees, we have no competitive game and we look forward in working with them to support the education, training and discussion as we look to develop our game here in Scotland.
All referees are welcome to attend this free workshop and can do so by registering with Matt Ramsay on matt@walkingfootballscotland.org
The league season recommences on 27th August for our Over 50’s in the East and West Premiership and Championship at RPC Dundee and Toryglen respectively.
It’s all to play for within all leagues as we kick off the second half of the season. In the East, there is a top of table clash between Arbroath against Hearts, with the Arbroath currently in the driving seat. In the Championship an undefeated Dundee Utd CT are top but face a derby against old foes, Dundee.
In the West, Braehead start top but only 3 points separate the top 4 teams in the Premiership, whereas Whitletts Vics are looking strong at the top of the Championship still undefeated.
We wish teams all the very best for this round of fixtures.
EAST PREMIERSHIP
EAST CHAMPIONSHIP
WEST PREMIERSHIP
WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
We’re delighted to be teaming up with all our clubs throughout October to raise vital funds for our charity partners, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland ahead of World Stroke Day, 29th October.
Your club has the whole month of October to think of fun and creative ways to get involved to raise awareness and vital funds to help improve the health and wellbeing of people across the country who are at risk of stroke and heart disease and support people with our conditions to live their lives to the full.
We and CHSS are on hand to help but here are some ideas to get you started:
How about organising a ticketed football tournament in your local club and challenging your work colleagues to a game, sell football cards or squares, get your friends and family involved in a coffee morning, beat the goalie or even go as far as a head shave or wax!
Also remember to ask your employer if they offer match funding. Your ideas can be as big or as small as you like. There are lots more ideas at Do your own thing - Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (chss.org.uk)
Whatever you decide to do, you’ll be making a huge difference to the 1 in 5 people in Scotland who are living with chest, heart and stroke conditions.
Next steps to kickstart your fundraising campaign:
CHSS are on hand to support you with your fundraising so please get in touch and let us and them, know your plans so they can support you with fundraising packs, sponsor sheets, t-shirts and merchandise for your events and activities.
1. If your club is in the West please contact louise.macleod@chss.org.uk
2. If you club is in the East please contact steph.wilks@chss.org.uk
3. If your club is in the North please contact heather.mccann@chss.org.uk
4. The easiest way to start fundraising is to set up your own club’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/chss and click on ’Fundraise for us’.
5. Please get in touch with your local fundraiser to organises resources by Wednesday 13th September to make sure they can get them to you in time.
We’re really looking forward to teaming up with you over the coming months to help make sure there’s no life half lived in Scotland.
Thank you,
WFS & Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
It has been a very busy few weeks for our WFS Regional Reps as they visited their local clubs experiencing their sessions, discussing ways in which we can support and hearing the many stories of the impact walking football has on the lives of those who attend.
There have been visits to; Broxburn Utd, Dundee FC, Glasgow Life, Glenafton Athletic, Universal Wanderers, West Lothian Youth Foundation.
We are delighted to welcome new affiliated club Glenafton Athletic to the walking football family and wish them all the very best with their sessions the South West of the country. Staying with that side of the country it was great to see another new affiliated club with The Striders, ladies only group based in Cumnock who took part in their very first match against other local team, Whitletts Victoria. Congratulations and all the very best!
West Regional Rep, Drew Wilson was also out and on hand to support a new Glasgow Life initiative for the West with the introduction of a ‘Friendly Trophy’ bringing clubs and players together to friendly games focusing on those who don’t usually take part in competitive walking football. We wish them all the very best with that new venture and to the clubs who will take part.
Sticking with Glasgow Life, their annual Glasgow Cup events kicked off this month with first up their Over 50’s and it was 3-in-a-row for Saint Anthony’s picking up the trophy again defeating Hearts in the final.
We appreciate the opportunity to get to visit our affiliated clubs across the country as well as provide you with a set of our WFS bibs to support your sessions.
the striders, cumnock
broxburn utd with regional reps jenny hammond & david callaghan
dundee fc with regional rep steve ross
glasgow life women’s only group with regional rep, drew wilson
regional rep with glenafton athletic
raith rovers
three valleys with regional rep drew wilson
universal wanderers & glasgow life
universal wanderers with regional rep drew wilson
west lothian foundation with regional reps jenny hammond & david callaghan
glasgow life over 50’s cup
saint anthony’s winners of over 50’s glasgow cup
As part of our partnership with charity partners, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, they are looking to gauge interest in Club/Groups health checks and additional connection opportunities with CHSS from within our WFS community.
With this in mind, we are asking clubs and players to complete the following survey in support of this to allow CHSS a better understanding on how we can impact the lives of those whom attend your weekly sessions - https://forms.office.com/e/HdWi4gtPpn
Today, Walking Football Scotland took the Education Workshop to RPC, Dundee, where 23 members from 14 affiliated clubs attended. This included; Arbroath, Brechin City, Carnoustie Panmure, Dundee, Dundee Utd, Dunfermline Dynamos, Fairfield, Fife Wanderers, Forfar Athletic, Linlithgow Rose, Raith Rovers, Saints in the Community, Scone Thistle and St James.
The workshop was delivered by WFS President, Kenny McLean, and Trustee, Matt Ramsay, which prompted much discussion on the various topics delivered. Thereafter, the practical session on the indoor pitch proved worthwhile for many of the participants.
Walking Football Scotland are indebted to the staff at RPC for the use of their excellent facilities and the provision of refreshments. We would also extend our gratitude to our Regional Representatives, Gordon Farquharson, Dave Milne, Mike Burnett, Jenny Hammond and Steve Ross for their assistance throughout the day.
Our final workshop will be Thursday 24th August where we travel to the North of the country to The Strikers Indoor Football Complex, Aberdeen. Spaces are still available to so please get in touch if you wish to be part of the workshop.
The league season recommenced today as our Over 65’s kicked off the second half of the Premiership season at Toryglen Regional Football Centre.
Alloa Athletic started the day on top but slip to third after Pollok Utd and Stenhousemuir go above them after a terrific 4 wins out of 4 for both clubs.
Stenhousemuir top the league on goal difference, but with 3 games to go and Pollok Utd impressively still unbeaten, anything can happen on Thursday 5th October at Oriam for our final day of the season.
Well done to all teams today and we look forward in seeing you in Edinburgh for the conclusion of the league season.
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