Walking football club goes from strength to strength

A FOOTBALL club, with a vital difference, is growing in popularity in Stratford.

Aimed predominantly at the over-40s, walking football is a slowed-down version of the sport that has given thousands of sportsmen and sportswomen a new lease of life.

Two years ago, there were just 125 clubs offering the game, but a Barclays TV advert followed and its popularity went through the roof.

There are now more than 800 walking football clubs and one of those clubs is based at Stratford School and run by Andy Hart.

The sport is designed to help people keep an active lifestyle despite their age, as well as getting those back playing football who have had to stop due to injuries.

“When I moved here I realised there was nothing in the area,” said Hart.

“If you wanted to go to an evening game then you had to travel to Birmingham.

“The group has grown nicely but we have the capacity to help many more.”

The club, which now boasts 55 members, will enter its first competition next weekend, when they take part in a Birmingham County FA 12-team tournament.

“We have some very good players here now,” Hart added.

“We’ve already played a friendly, that wasn’t great, but we have stepped on a lot from then.

“I think we’ll now push forward as a team as opposed to being all over the place when we started.”

The team are also holding walking football demonstrations at the Stratford’s Ken Kennett Centre on 22nd July and at King Edward VI School at the end of September.

For anyone interested in taking up the sport, members are required to be over the age of 40.

The club holds free-of-charge warm-up coaching sessions on Tuesdays between 6.15pm and 6.50pm. Training takes place on Tuesdays anf Fridays between 7pm and 8pm at Stratford School, costing £4 per session.

For further details, telephone Andy on 07989 356514 or search for Stratford Walking Football on Facebook.