Passionate sports club members teamed up and raised money to honour their founder, which led to the club being saved. 

The club secretary of Hindlip Walking FC, Terry Holland, said that the club was close to closing down after the pandemic made it difficult for costs to be covered.

Getting members together, old and new, to say goodbye to the club ended up being what saved it.

Mr Holland said: "Hindlip FC was one of the first football walking clubs formed in Worcestershire.

"William (Ron) Barker founded the club after a small group of us had started trying the game in the gym at Hindlip Police HQ.

"Numbers grew and we were soon entering tournaments across the country. 

"Then there were two European ventures - one to Spain and one to Italy a year later.

"The club then had about forty players (both men and women) and two regular weekly sessions. 

"Then covid hit the club and like many other ventures it caused a drop in numbers even after the lockdown ended.

"Numbers had dwindled and Ron informed us that it seemed unlikely he could cover running costs on the reduced income - the club would close down."

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Mr Holland explained that with it looking like the club was going to close, members decided to collect gifts and money to thank Mr Barker for all of the work he had done for Hindlip FC.

Mr Holland added: "He had been the foundation and the cornerstone of the whole club so we wanted to provide a suitable thank you. 

"After the pandemic, we had gone from two sessions a week to one as we couldn't cover the cost of hiring pitches."

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"It looked like the whole thing might fold so we thought we could make it up to Will with a night at the Coach and Horses pub on The Tything to give him this thank you."

They got old and new members together to contribute to the collection and as a result, the club has managed to remain afloat. 

Mr Holland said: "We aren't back to where we were, but the funds raised managed to save the club. 

"The Coach and Horses on The Tything kindly let us use their back room for a social get together - it was terrific. We're planning to go back at Christmas time."