Wiltshire's first walking football league launched

By Barrie Hudson - 16 July 2020

CommunityClubs & ActivitiesSport
  • Walking football is popular among those no longer able to enjoy playing the conventional version

    Walking football is popular among those no longer able to enjoy playing the conventional version

Walking football teams from Swindon and Highworth are among the founders of the new league.

  • Clubs from across Wiltshire united to create the new league

    Clubs from across Wiltshire united to create the new league

Teams from throughout the county, including in Amesbury, Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Devizes, Melksham, Salisbury and Trowbridge came together to form Wiltshire County Walking Football League, helped and encouraged by Wiltshire FA.

Teams will play in over-50s and over-60s divisions in a sport which is growing in popularity and caters for people with mobility or other issues which mean they can no longer play conventional football.

League Chairman Terry McCosh said: “This League has been a long time in the making and will at last allow all teams to play competitive football within our own county and against our fellow Wiltshire clubs. 

"The walking football scene in Wiltshire has been progressing steadily for several years but until now we have had to travel to Gloucestershire and Berkshire in order to play competitive league football. 

"The Wiltshire FA must be congratulated for giving us the freedom to define a structure specific to our form of the game."  

League Secretary Kev Turner said: “We know from our own experience how having a healthy competition base has helped to encourage more players back into the game. 

"The recreational sessions played at venues throughout the county are a brilliant way for the over-50s to maintain fitness and enjoy a simple game with like-minded individuals. 

"We anticipate that bringing attention to this league will entice many new players to come forward to enjoy these social sessions as well as wanting to play competitively”. 

It is intended that league fixtures will be played at the Wiltshire FA’s new state-of-the-art headquarters, which opened recently in Devizes. 

Mark Young, Wiltshire FA’s Football Development Manager, said he was delighted at the formation of the new league and looked forward to seeing the fast-growing version of grassroots football played at the new HQ.

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