Club News

It’s getting to that time of the year with Christmas get-togethers, award nights and celebrations and today we share some of those festivities featuring: Ayr Utd, Carrick, Dunfermline Dynamos, Loanhead, Rossvale and Stranraer

Feel free to send us in your pictures as you all enjoy special end of year celebrations together sharing socially with one another.

Off the back of recent Awards night at Drumchapel Utd, the club were delighted to hand over another cheque to the Drumchapel Food Bank for the sum of £660 - well done gents!

Last week also so another EFDN event with a Rangers tournament on their newly resurfaced Community pitch at the Ibrox Complex. Congratulations to all who took part.

ayr utd

carrick

drumchapel utd

dunfermline dynamos

loanhead

rangers

rossvale ladies

stranraer

Referee Liaison Officer Appointment

Walking Football Scotland are delighted to announce the appointment of Simon McLean as Referee Liaison Officer.

This voluntary role, supported by the Scottish FA Referee Association, helps the development of walking football referees as well as support operations and related administrative and reporting procedures.

Simon, a retired police detective, has 40 years experience refereeing and has led as well as been a participant of walking football sessions for over 5 years.

On the new role, Simon said: “I am delighted to be joining the team and really look forward to helping WFS bring the multiple benefits of our beautiful game to our members across the whole county.

Our referees are integral to our game, where inclusion and player safety are our watchwords. We need officials who understand our game and the unique features that make it so appealing across our gents and ladies age groups.

My job will be to help WFS identify, guide and nurture experienced referees across Scotland and ensure that they have every support and assistance we can give them. We rely on them to limit the intensity of our competitive matches and together we will set a template for future generations to follow.

Without our referees we would have no game and we are so lucky to have a strong core currently in place who will provide our foundation and springboard in coming years.”

WFS Competitions and Events organiser, Matt Ramsay stated: “This is an important role to help develop and improve the game in Scotland.

Simon comes with a wealth of experience and his enthusiasm for the game shines through.

With the excellent support we’ve had from the Referee Association, we hope this is the next step to improve player safety and enhance the quality of delivery at our competitions and events.”

O60’s Champions League

𝗔𝘆𝗿 𝗨𝘁𝗱 - 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬!

The final competition event of the year concluded today with the O60’s Champions League as Ayr Utd added to their Scottish Cup success as they were crowned O60’s Champions League 2023 winners!

The top 3 teams from the East, with league winners Hearts as well as Dundee Utd and Linlithgow Rose joined West league winners, Glasgow Life, Ayr Utd and Pollok Thistle for what was a competitive afternoon of walking football at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility.

However, it was Ayr Utd who were impressively unbeaten over the 5 games and were presented the trophy from WFS supporter and former footballer, Tom Boyd as they became the first O60’s club to lift our new trophy for the first time.

We say a massive thank you to all clubs, players, venue staff, referees and Tom Boyd for their support today and congratulations once again to Ayr Utd.

Photographs - Phil Dawson (photosbyphild.com)

Club News

A busy few weeks for weeks as ever with clubs getting involved in various activities.

Park Villa, a recent affiliated club based in Glasgow saw the following article in the Glasgow Times as they shared the impact of the game on their lives -

https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/23953303.meet-glasgow-taxi-drivers-started-walking-football/

The annual O65’s Glasgow Life Cup took place last Wednesday and 21 teams and over 200 players took part at Toryglen with Townhead Strollers coming out on top defeating GM Kings from Manchester.

There was also a trip to Hampden Park for the Glasgow Life Dementia group who usually play at Toryglen, but with the Glasgow Cup taking place, they had a special trip to the national stadium instead.

Hibernian Community Foundation began their weekly Walking Football session back in May, with the players now taking their next step into playing competitively and representing the Club and Foundation in the 2024 season as well as Club Festivals, making their debut at the Raith Rovers Christmas Festival.

And finally, the cold weather has begun to have an impact on weekly sessions but nothing stopped Active Fife as 18 took to the park to enjoy their weekly session.

As this happens no doubt more and more over the next couple of months please everyone stay safe and look after one another.

CHSS FUNDRAISING TOTAL ANNOUNCED!

Walking Football Scotland are delighted to announce that the total raised for our charity partners, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is the sum of £10,277!

We would like to say a massive thank you to every single person who contributed in raising this incredible total to ensure that ‘No Life is Half Lived’.

From bake sales, football cards, festivals, donations and the ‘Midnight Ibrox Walk’ by our own trustees, so many have contributed in such an amazing and creative way to support this cause.

We would like to make a special mention to abseilers Bobby Thornton and Steve Winstanley who between them raised over £2k and we commend them for their incredible efforts.

The walking football community is one that is a real force and collaboratively this sum is a huge support to our charity partners for the phenomenal work that they do.

president kenny mclean & trustee matt ramsay pictured with chss’s paul okroj obe (Director of People Drive Development), Joanne Graham (Head of Service Delivery), chris doherty (community engagement coordinator)

Referee Education Workshop Dates 2024

With the support of the Scottish FA Referee Association, we are delighted to announce our next Walking Football Referee Education Workshop dates which will be available at the start of 2024 prior to the new competitive league season commencing.

Without our referees, we have no competitive game and we look forward in working with them again to support the education, training and ongoing discussions as we look to develop our game here in Scotland.

Dates available are as follows:

Thursday 18th January - online (7.30-9pm) **most suitable for Dundee based referees

Thursday 1st February - Toryglen (7-8.30pm)

Friday 2nd February - Toryglen (10-11.30am)

Please note that due to high levels of interest we can only accommodate currently registered referees to attend this free workshop. We will share open education workshops to all players in the new year.

You can book your place by contacting Matt Ramsay on matt@walkingfootballscotland.org

Please note any referee wishing to officiate any official WFS events next year, must attend one of the dates offered below.

Glasgow Life Wins Glasgow Sport's 'Health & Wellbeing Award'

Huge congratulations to Glasgow Sport Walking Football, who have been inaugural winners of the Glasgow Health & Wellbeing Award, held within the Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow on Monday 27th November.

With 250+ weekly attendees over 17 sessions, the programme is the largest in the country, catering for over 50’s, Women’s only, Dementia and Parkinson’s as well as organising many walking football events which many of our affiliated clubs take part in throughout the year.

The award in partnership with Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership saw one of our own trustees, Matt Ramsay pick up the award alongside his Glasgow Life coaches.

Congratulations!

O60's CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Our final Champions League event commences on Wednesday as the top 3 teams from the East and West meet to compete to be crowned O60’s Champions League winners.

From the East, league winners Hearts as well as Dundee Utd CT and Linlithgow Rose CFC will join West league winners, Glasgow Life, Ayr Utd and Pollok Thistle for what we are sure will be an exciting afternoon of walking football at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility.

It’s a straight 5 match, winner takes all, event and we look forward in seeing who will lift our new O60’s Champions League trophy for the first time.

All the very best to all teams!

Club News

Our clubs have been busy over the past few weeks with festivals, fundraising and proudly showing off their new WFS bibs.

Simon McLean and Pollok Utd had a very successful fundraising number of events as they raised over £4k for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, a charity very close to Simon’s heart, and we congratulate them for this incredible amount of work.

Colin Craig of Glasgow Life and Drumchapel Utd were supporting charity partners CHSS this last couple of weeks, where they were getting their Christmas card orders in early whilst raising money for CHSS.

The annual Raith Rovers Christmas Cup was held yesterday, Sunday 26th November welcoming 10 teams to Starks Park and it was the hosts that came out on top defeating Fairfield in the final.

KA Leisure in Ayrshire and Carnoustie Panmure were proudly showing off their new WFS bibs and we hope you get much use out of them too.

If you or your club has a story to tell, get in touch with us and we would be delighted to share the news.

simon mclean & pollok utd

drumchapel utd

raith rovers

carnoustie panmure

ka leisure

O50's CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐂 𝐀𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 - 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬!

The first of our Champions League events kicked off today as Giffnock SC Auld Timers added to their league success as they were crowned O50’s Champions League 2023 winners!

The top 3 teams from the East, with league winners Arbroath as well as Oriam and Hearts joined West league winners, Giffnock SC Auld Timers, North Lanarkshire Council and Braehead for what was a competitive afternoon of walking football at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility.

However, it was Giffnock SC Auld Timers who were impressively unbeaten over the 5 games and were presented the trophy from WFS supporter and former footballer, Gordon Smith as they became the first club to lift our new trophy for the first time.

We say a massive thank you to all clubs, players, venue staff, referees and Gordon Smith for their support today and congratulations once again to Giffnock SC Auld Timers.

Photographs - Phil Dawson (photosbyphild.com)

raymond heaney (giffnock sc captain) & gordon smith

arbroath

braehead fc

giffnock sc auld timers

hearts

north lanarkshire council

oriam

referees stephen mcdevitt, david marshall & simon reilly

O70's PREMIERSHIP

It was a tense final day at Toryglen Regional Football Centre as our Over 70’s met for the final day of the season.

After all teams near the top of the league dropped points, it took to the very last match for North Lanarkshire Council to be crowned champions!

Commiserations to both Ayr Utd and Fife Wanderers who pushed them hard this season but it was the current Scottish Cup winners who finish of the year with a league and cup double.

We are grateful to former Scotland Internationalist, Jim McCalliog who, as ever, is a huge support to WFS and Jim was on hand to present the winning trophy and medals.

If you have not already purchased a copy of Jim’s book ‘Wembley Wins, Wembley Woes’ priced at £19.99, you can purchase a copy from here - Hear Legends of Football Talk about their Career Experiences % % (legendsof-football.com)

We finally say a massive thank you to all players, clubs, referees, venue staff and regional reps for all their support this season and once again congratulate winners, North Lanarkshire Council.

📢 ⚽ CALLING ALL WALKING FOOTBALL & BAKING ENTHUSIASTS! 📢 ⚽

Walking Football Scotland have been contacted by Love Productions who produce the Channel 4 TV program The Great British Bake Off. For those that have not seen or heard of the program, 12 home bakers take part in a “bake off” which tests every aspect of their baking skills as they battle it out to be crowned the Great British Bake Off’s Best Amateur Baker.

As Love Productions prepare for the new series of the program, they would like to involve a walking footballer who is also a keen amateur baker, hence they have contacted WFS. Below is the advert they requested we publish. If you are interested, then contact Love Productions as per the information below. Please do not contact WFS regarding this.

Are you a star baker or know someone who is? ⭐️

Here at the Bake Off we are trying to reach out to every corner of the country to encourage all amateur bakers to apply!

If you enjoy football and can bake, let us know.

Applications for The Great British Bake-Off series 15 are now OPEN! 🍰

Visit www.applyforbakeoff.co.uk for more information.

O50's CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The first of our Champions League events kick off this coming Sunday as the top 3 teams from the East and West meet to compete to be crowned O50’s Champions League winners.

From the East, league winners Arbroath as well as Oriam and Hearts will join West league winners, Giffnock SC Auld Timers, North Lanarkshire Council and Braehead for what we are sure will be an exciting afternoon of walking football at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility.

It’s a straight 5 match, winner takes all, event and we look forward in seeing who will lift our new Champions League trophy for the first time.

All the very best to all teams!

O70's PREMIERSHIP & JIM McCALLIOG

It is the final day of the season on Wednesday as our Over 70’s are the final age group to conclude the competitive league season prior to the Over 50’s & 60’s Champions League.

The 9 teams from across the country will meet for the last time as a National League as we splint into East and West leagues next year with the addition of a Champions League event too.

It is tight at the top with North Lanarkshire Council currently sitting top but with 4 games to be played anything could happen.

We are delighted to be welcoming a huge supporter of WFS, former Wolves, Manchester Utd and Scotland international, Jim McCalliog to present the winning trophy and medals.

We are grateful to Jim who has agreed that for any walking footballer who purchases his new book ‘Wembley Win, Wembley Woes’ priced at £19.99, a £5 donation will be made to WFS on his behalf.

You can purchase a signed copy on the day or purchase from here - Hear Legends of Football Talk about their Career Experiences % % (legendsof-football.com)

All the very best to all teams taking part on Wednesday.

O60's WEST PREMIERSHIP

It was the final day of the season for the WFS Over 60’s West Premiership at Toryglen Regional Football Centre, and it’s 2-in-a-row, as Glasgow Life became Champions for a second successive season.

Impressively, Glasgow Life have come through the full season unbeaten, only conceding 2 goals in the process.

We also congratulate second place Ayr Utd who pushed the champions all the way, and Pollok Thistle who take that final Champions League spot, finishing in third place.

We are grateful to former Rangers and Motherwell player, Bobby Russell for giving his time to come along and present the wining trophy and medals today.

It has been another good season of walking football and we would like to thanks all players, clubs, referees, venue staff and our regional reps for all their support.