If you've ever joined a walking football group you'd realise that the footballing history for every one in the group is different.
In amongst every group are the hardened footballers. These are the players who, throughout their earlier years, played week in - week out for local sides in amateur leagues and pub teams. With these players, even though the fast pace may have slowed, they still know where to be, how to position, and how to be good. When two walking football groups meet, these are the players that say to each other "Didn't you play for the Rovers in the Southern League?" With the reply, "Oh yes, and we beat you three nil." After their playing time ended, these players often stayed involved by managing the same teams they played for, or by coaching and encouraging their children to follow in their bootsteps.
Then there are those players in the group that have played football before but never that seriously. These players often start with poor first touch and a poor footballing sense, but after playing for a while, develop into good players. In many groups these are the core members and they play walking football for the enjoyment it gives and the social support it offers. Many of these players don't want to do any more than kick a ball on a Tuesday afternoon with a bunch of like minded friends.
Next up are the 'never kicked a ball before' players who join a walking football group to get fit, get out, socialise, and simply to try it. That first session is always a shock, as walking around a field kicking a ball is much harder and energetic than it looks. Those that recover from session one and continue to play, may never end up being the star in a team, but they do get better and better, and the satisfaction gained from improving skills and being included as an equal, is extremely satisfying.
So where are the ex-professionals? I've heard there are some that play but they seem few and far between. Maybe years of professional play takes such a strain on the knees and body that it becomes a step too far, or maybe, having played at the highest levels, the thought of playing the equivalent of, how can I put it, 'park football' may not be that appealing.
Whatever the reason we play, or the chequered footballing backgrounds we have, walking football is welcoming, inclusive and available to all.
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