HAVING covered hundreds of games of football at all levels over the past twenty five years, it’s now more of a relaxing journey watching the elder generation getting back into walking football albeit at a more leisurely pace.

But for those who thought they would never play the game again, the spirit and the banter of those once fine athletes, has become a joy and resurgence for so many writes, Merv Colenutt.

Those memories have now once more become a reality to some once again as they can talk the talk and re-kindle friendships from days gone by and re-live those glory days and who would have thought that was possible ten years ago.

Aaron Clements who is the football Development officer at the Somerset FA,  is quite rightly proud of the success that has blossomed over those past ten years , he added “In the first season we had just four teams who played against each other in a round robin competition, so there were no pressures, it was just friendlies and from there it all gathered  and more teams became interested”.

“Through that first year in 2016, we began to put together festivals as more and more ex- players wanted to play more competitively, so we started an over 50s league as well as the friendlies and within six months, we started an over 60s league as well and since then walking football has increased it’s popularity to another level and more teams are joining every year since”.

“The standard has improved beyond recognition and even in the past year, we have now attracted those who want to play female walking football and it is fast becoming a great advert for our older generations”.

“We have now done a county cup competition for the first time beginning last year and there are plans for the FA to help grow walking football into a national game around the country and a provision to play for national cups”.
“On that basis, big plans lie ahead lie ahead for walking football in the coming four years and long may it continue as it’s all good for the health for the older generation to find that social side of things again following covid as well and for those who thought they would never kick a football again in competition, this has also brought the fun side back into the game here in Somerset for the over 50s and 60s.

Next week-future plans and a chat with former Bristol Rovers striker Paul Randall who continues to play walking football and score goals on a regular basis.