Walking Football for over 50's

[derekb]

Ever fancied playing on the pitch at the Furness Building Society Stadium but you thought you'd left it too late?

Fancy a game of footie but don't have enough energy to chase the ball.....?

Or maybe you just want to be the new Berbatov?

Walking Football for the over 50's is just for you!

Barrow AFC will be hosting three free taster sessions starting on Tuesday 19 June at 6pm. And you can chill out after the first session by watching England v Ukraine in the Cross Bar.

More details shortly!

[The Tomahawk Kid]

Walking Football? Jeeze!

Some of us over 50s can still run, you know!

[Gazza]

I think the idea of soccer teams/leagues for those of us getting on a bit is a great idea. But on another note related to this, the only problem I have and it's not just this particular plan but why are there always other games on the Holker Street pitch either in the season or in the close season? The pitch last season was bad enough without extra games on it and surely in June the pitch should be being prepared for next season! It's no wonder it must be one of the worst in the league, it really does not make sense why the club continue to allow this other than the usual extra income excuse. Save Bayliss is saying in the mail tonight about the new training base having superb pitches. There is no point training on nice pitches, being able to knock the ball around, then having to play on a ploughed field every other week. Surely the excellent idea of overage soccer can take place elsewhere.

[Three Lie Ins]

So if you run will that be foul play? As mentioned earlier it's a bit patronising. Many over 50s still run regularly and are probably fitterthan some in their twenties and thirties

[ZiggerZag]

I despaired when I read the original post. So much for sorting the pitch out during the close season. Bobbles are us.

[Hadrian]

And another positive intiative falls foul of the naysayers...

[bobbie moore]

Perhaps walking football will trample the divots and make ground surface even save employing groundstaff etc

[Steelworks End]

Perhaps walking football will trample the divots and make ground surface even

There's a certain logic to that. Many older supporters (and I'm speaking as one myself!) are, shall we say, slightly bulkier than we were as blithe young men and would therefore have a greater flattening effect on the divots than the normal inhabitants of the pitch would. An extra ration of pies at half time would also help.

[Nigel Bamford]

An extra ration of pies at half time would also help.

Pies went the same way as the Holker Street roof, never to be seen again.

[Always Ultra]

<insert Phil Bolland joke here>

[I love barow]

do you have to be 50 to play and if not would you mind if I ran

[Wintergreen]

Walking football?

Stroll on.

[derekb]

Walking Football update
Barrow AFC, Lancashire FA and Barrow Sports Council are running 3 free taster sessions for over 50’s on Tuesdays 19 and 26 June and 3 July.

The idea of the sessions is to offer over 50’s some exercise which is fun and suitable for people who aren’t quite as fit as they used to be!

Barrow AFC Development worker Craig Rutherford said the initiative has come from the new Barrow AFC Community Board.
“We have been looking at how the club can help the local community and we have identified exercise amongst the over 50’s as something we can do to help. Not everyone wants to join a gym and most people stop playing football competitively in their 20’s and 30’s. But lots of people still love the game. For many over 50’s walking is a good way to combat obesity and heart disease. So we thought, let’s put the two together and try walking football. It’s healthy but it’s also social and fun.”

Each of the three taster sessions will start with dribbling and passing exercises. Participants will then take part in games using modified five a side rules. Boots will not be allowed and participants will play in trainers and casual sports gear or kit.

Each of the sessions will start at 6 o’clock. They are planned to last about an hour but this depends on numbers.

Craig says the club is very supportive and if the sessions go well, they will work with Lancashire FA and Barrow Sports Council to develop the project.
“We haven’t tried this before but we know there are hundreds of older adults out there who would love to play football again but they just can’t compete any more. If we get some of these people together, maybe some of them will want to take part regularly. We’ll see!”

[Three Lie Ins]

This sounds like a great idea, but how on earth do you dribble at walking pace?

[snowdog71]

There are also a number of under 50's who aren't as fit as they used to be, who could do with the exercise.

Myself included!!!!