Player of the Month (November) - David Crawford & Gillian Stevenson

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We’re keeping up with our monthly spotlight on Walking Football Scotland Players of the Month in partnership with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland! 

Walking Football Scotland Men’s Player of the Month is David Crawford! David, 71, plays with Dunbar WFC.

For November the Walking Football Scotland Women’s Player of the Month is Gillian Stevenson! Gillian, 55, plays with Motherwell FC Community Trust.

Congratulations David and Gillian! They shared their reflections on what Walking Football means to them.

Why did you get involved in walking football?

Gillian: “To keep fit but at a different pace from my normal keep fit routine.”

David: “I had a cardiac arrest in July 2019 and I survived thanks to my step-daughter, who gave me CPR for 16 minutes before the ambulance and helicopter from the Great North Air Ambulance arrived. The Doctor and paramedic took over my care and I was airlifted to a hospital in Newcastle.

“As part of my recovery, I was looking for some sort of regular exercise and my step-daughter mentioned that there was a walking football group in Dunbar. I hadn’t played football for years but decided to give it a go and I now play twice a week.”

What positive impact has walking football had on your life?

Gillian: “While contributing to my fitness levels in general, I have also met lots of new people who have become friends as well as team mates. I have also enjoyed getting to play in tournaments such as the  Scottish Cup & Glasgow Cup.”

David: “Walking Football has improved my health – I am fitter and my weight has also gone down since I started playing.

“I look forward to playing twice a week, outdoors in all weather conditions and I still enjoy it even when the weather is poor. I was a bit wary of playing at first, but I soon relaxed knowing I could play without any problem due to the welcome I received.”

What would you say to encourage others to come along?

Gillian: “Get involved, it’s worth it and you will love it.”

David: “Playing walking football has helped people like me, with health problems, get regular exercise! I would recommend it to anyone and it is a good way to meet new people, making friends and having a laugh.

“Give it a go! It certainly has helped me!”

𝗪𝗙𝗦 𝗢𝟲𝟬'𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 & 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗸 𝗨𝘁𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗨𝘁𝗱 - 𝗝.𝗡. 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!!!

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𝗪𝗙𝗦 𝗢𝟲𝟬'𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 & 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗸 𝗨𝘁𝗱 & 𝗗𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗨𝘁𝗱 - 𝗝.𝗡. 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!!!

The final league concluded today with the WFS O60’s West Premiership and Championship at Toryglen Regional Football Centre with Pollok Utd and Drumchapel Utd - J.N. Electrics being crowned champions respectively.

In the Premiership, with Pollok Utd winning all their 4 matches, they became champions on goal difference, 2 goals better off than Glasgow Life with 3rd place, North Lanarkshire Council making up the 3 Champions League places to be played on 11th December.

In the Championship, it came down to the last game and after Gretna 2008 drew with Morton, Drumchapel Utd - J.N. Electrics were crowned champions, all 3 teams being promoted to next year’s Premiership.

We say a big thank you to former Motherwell and Rangers player, Bobby Russell who was on hand to present today’s winning trophies and medals.

Thank you to all clubs, players, referees and regional reps for all their support over the course of this season.

Photos - Phil Dawson

Club News

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It is always great to see our clubs getting together, organising their own events and also enjoying the camaraderie that walking football brings.

The Strikers Aberdeen Parkinson’s group has been growing from strength to strength and this week were delighted to announce sponsorship from EnQuest with the supply of new track suit tops for their players, shirts from Granton Developments and tracksuit bottoms from GMB portfolio services.

In the borders, Queen of the South were delighted to play hosts to the Anglo-Scottish Cup event welcoming Annan Athletic, Stranraer, Glenafton Athletic, Gretna, Carlisle, Workington and St Cuthbert Wanderers with the Kirkcudbright outfit coming out on top.

In the South East, Oriam welcomed Dunbar for a friendly match and always nice to see a good mix of players, age, gender and ability playing together.

Finally, Winter seems to have certainly reached us and clubs continue to do good work in their community and none more so that Carrick WFC after yet again dropping off another food collection to their local food bank! Well done folks!

𝗪𝗙𝗦 𝗢𝟳𝟬'𝘀 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗙𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!!!

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𝗪𝗙𝗦 𝗢𝟳𝟬'𝘀 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗙𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!!!

The WFS O70’s East Premiership concluded at Oriam National Performance Centre today as Fife Wanderers were crowned champions!

The Fife outfit topped the league 3 points clear of second place, Stenhousemuir and it was Oriam who claimed the third and final champions league spot to be played on Wednesday 4th December.

A special thanks to former Scotland Manager Craig Levein who was on hand to present the league trophy and winning medals to Fife Wanderers and we thank him for his continued support to us at WFS.

Well done to all clubs, referees and players for an excellent season of walking football in the East of Scotland.

Photos - Phil Dawson

WFS O70's West Premiership - North Lanarkshire Council Champions!!!

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𝗪𝗙𝗦 𝗢𝟳𝟬'𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!!!

The WFS O70’s West Premiership concluded at Toryglen Regional Football Centre today as North Lanarkshire Council were crowned champions making it 2-in-a-row!

The Lanarkshire outfit topped the league 5 points clear of second place, EKYM and it was Ayr Utd who claimed the third and final champions league spot to be played on Wednesday 4th December.

A special thanks to former Celtic and Motherwell FC Captain, Tom Boyd who was on hand to present the league trophy and winning medals to North Lanarkshire Council.

Well done to all clubs, referees and players for an excellent season of walking football in the West of Scotland.

Photos - Phil Dawson

WFS O60's West Premiership & Championship

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The WFS O60’s West Premiership and Championship concludes at Toryglen Regional Football Centre on Wednesday 27th November.

In the Premiership, North Lanarkshire Council continue unbeaten but only 1 point ahead going into the final fixtures with still to play both Pollok Utd and Glasgow Life.

In the Championship, Gretna 2008 are top one point clear of Drumchapel Utd - JN Electrics but Morton FC also have a game in hand, setting us up for an exciting final day!

Please note - Premiership will kick off at the slightly earlier time at 11am with Championship kicking off at the usual 12pm.

All the very best!

CHSS Fundraising Amount Revealed!

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Scoring big to ensure No Life Half Lived! ✨⚽

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who took part in the October fundraising month for charity partners Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.

You raised an incredible £7,344 to help people with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid live their lives to the full.

You’re putting your best foot forward to raise awareness and vital funds to improve the health and wellbeing of people across the country.

We were delighted to be hand over the giant cheque at the home of the Scotland National Team Hampden Park last week.

Stay tuned for more exciting news from the our partnership coming soon!

𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰

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𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰

We were delighted to be part of a special day at Toryglen as Glasgow Life hosted the Peoples Ford Parkinson’s Festival.

From the terrific opening ceremony with Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band to the last presentation, it’s been an amazing day!

With 12 teams taking part including Celtic FC Foundation, KA Leisure and Hibernian Community Foundation with both the Ayrshire and Edinburgh sides taking part for the first time since their formation this year.

Hibernian were winners of the Peoples Ford Parkinson’s Ball and we congratulate all other winners

Special guest for the day included: Billy Dodds, Murdo Macleod, Gordon Smith, Rose Reilly MBE, Shelley Kerr and Allan Preston.

A massive congratulations to hosts Glasgow Life for a terrific event and we look forward to next year with the hope of even more Scottish based teams taking part!

Photos - photosbyphild

𝗢𝟲𝟱'𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 - 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗮 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!

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𝗢𝟲𝟱'𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 - 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗮 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!

We kicked off the first of our Champions League events today with the O65’s Men’s category meeting at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, Wishaw.

After 5 tough matches, the East Premiership Champions, Alloa Athletic made it a season double as they became O65’s Champions League Winners for 2024.

We congratulate all teams including winners Alloa Athletic, Ayr Utd, Linlithgow Rose, North Lanarkshire Council, Stenhousemuir and Townhead Strollers for a good day of walking football.

A big thanks to our referees for all their support and we look forward in welcoming all O65’s back to competitive action in 2025.

Photographs - Phil Dawson

Parkinson's Active Online Conference

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We were delighted to hear the terrific ongoing work of Hibernian Community Foundation with the bespoke Parkinson’s Walking Football session they deliver every Wednesday at the Parkinson’s Active Online Conference today.

Through the funding support we are Parkinson’s UK were able to provide the programme has grown in number and has been having a huge impact in Edinburgh.

Well done to Niamh Westwood and her team of coaches and volunteer for their commitment and excellent delivery to help support those with Parkinson’s to continue to be active and enjoy walking football.

WFS O70's East Premiership

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The WFS O70’s East Premiership concludes at Oriam National Performance Centre on Friday 22nd November with Fife Wanderers one hand firmly on the trophy.

Fife Wanderers are 7 points clear with only 3 games to play knowing one win will see them be crowned champions but they face champions league spot chasers Oriam and Hearts and with Stenhousemuir still to play the latter also, we are sure to be in for another exciting finish to another league again.

We wish teams all the very best!

WFS O70's West Premiership

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The WFS O70’s West Premiership concludes at Toryglen Regional Football Centre on Wednesday 20th November with it very much still all to play for.

North Lanarkshire Council are currently top 4 points clear with 4 games to go but face title challengers Ayr Utd in the opening match.

EKYM are only 1 point behind Ayr Utd and play Ayr in their own second match so we are sure to be in for an exciting final day of the season.

We wish teams all the very best!

ARTHUR DUNCAN AWARD 2024

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𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐑 𝐃𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐔𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 2024

’𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅’

Arthur Duncan became involved in walking football in 2015 when the Healthy Hearts Club at Stirling Sports Village formed the basis of a new group. From his first taste of walking football, Arthur was a fervent supporter of the social playing sessions and how it contributed to the society and camaraderie of participants. Arthur was also a very talented man and, along with ex-Chair, Gary McLaughlin, he created the WFS logo, later assigning copyright over the logo to Walking Football Scotland.

In his role as a graphic artist and his various roles in the community, Arthur was always extremely busy designing leaflets, programmes, strip graphics and the like and in that role he made a massive contribution to Walking Football Scotland. Locally, promotional items were produced with regularity, but arguably his most noteworthy work will be the design of the WFS logo based around his beloved saltire. The logo will endure for many years as a physical reminder of his contribution to walking football in Scotland.

In 2022, in recognition of Arthur’s contribution, Walking Football Scotland launched the annual Arthur Duncan Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to walking football, locally and among the community. The inaugural winner was Mags Muir of Carnoustie Panmuir and 2023 winner was Colin Craig from Drumchapel Utd.

We are hereby inviting member club representatives and regional representatives to submit nominations for the Arthur Duncan Memorial Award 2024. We are seeking nominations of an individual who the representative believes fits this role. The proposal should be no more than 200 words long and should describe why the representative believes that their nominated individual should receive this award.

Nominations are open from today until noon on Friday 13th December and should be emailed to president@walkingfootballscotland.org

The successful nominee will be invited to the WFS AMM, or an event that suits them, to receive the award.

Board of Trustees
Walking Football Scotland

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024

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Walking Football Scotland are delighted to introduce our new Champions League Trophy, courtesy of 1st Class Trophies & Awards.

The Champions League will be played this year for the first time ever, within all age categories highlighting the magnificent growth of the game here in Scotland.

WFS Trustee Matt Ramsay said, “We are delighted with the support of 1st Class Trophies and Awards to introduce our new Champions League Trophy and acknowledge the terrific effort that those teams who will qualify have made throughout the season and hope this will become a special trophy for players to win!”

WFS Patron Gordon Smith said: “The competitive game has grown massively over the last number of years and this year we recognise all age categories for the first time, that will compete to become Champions League winners!”

We look forward to this year’s Champions League events on the following dates:

Over 50’s Men’s - Sunday 8th December

Over 60’s Men’s - Wednesday 11th December

Over 65’s Men’s - Wednesday 13th November

Over 70’s Men’s- Wednesday 4th December

Over 40’s Women’s - Sunday 8th December

Over 50’s Women’s - Sunday 8th December

O50’s Women’s Premiership - Braehead Champions!!!

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𝗢𝟱𝟬’𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀!!!

We were back at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, Wishaw for the return of the final National Women’s O50’s Premiership fixtures of the season.

Braehead FC made it a O40’s and O50‘s Premiership double as they were crowned O50’s champions, winning the league impressively unbeaten winning all of their matches this season.

The top 4 teams will compete in the Women’s Champions League and the champions will be joined by RFFIT, Giffnock SC Women and Jeanfield Swifts.

WFS Patron Rose Reilly was on hand to present the trophy and medals and we say a special thanks to her for giving of her time to support us today.

We congratulate Braehead in becoming champions and thank all clubs, players, referees and regional reps for their support this season.

Photos - helenrhylandphoto