LAUNCHING walking football at a Worcester leisure centre has proved a tactical masterstroke worthy of Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola, with the 100th session in two years having just taken place.
Freedom Leisure, which operates the city’s three leisure centres and provides the Active Communities service on behalf of Worcester City Council, has celebrated its 100th walking football session at Perdiswell Leisure Centre.
Having started the walking football just over two years ago, the group has grown from week to week and now regularly welcomes up to 20 men and women at each session.
Walking football is a slowed down, walking version of the beautiful game which has become enormously popular across the UK, especially with older people.
Perdiswell Leisure Centre hosted the landmark 100th session of walking football last week, celebrating the friendships that have been made with tea, coffee and cake afterwards.
Walking football attendee, Keith Lewis said: “Walking football is a fantastic sport. I haven’t played football since my early20s, but after having a heart attack whilst playing squash, I had to find a sport that was enjoyable and safe for me to play.
"I attended the very first walking football session at Perdiswell Leisure Centre in 2017 and have loved it ever since. The group have become good friends and as a result I have only missed four of the 100 sessions so far.”
Walking Football sessions take place on a Tuesday morning from 10 to 11am and are delivered by FA qualified coaches, with the first session free to all new players.
Matthew Rogers, Freedom Leisure's Active Communities manager, said: “We launched the walking football sessions in 2017 and have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm for the sport! The session is aimed for older aged people, but we now have men and women from their 20s to their 70s taking part each week.
“Walking football is great for people who previously played football and want to get back into it or for those who have never played before, and for those recovering from injury too – it really doesn’t matter, walking football is really inclusive.”
To try walking football, pop along to Perdiswell Leisure Centre on a Tuesday to try a session for free. For more information call 07885 407474 or email tom.rimmer@freedom-leisure.co.uk
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