Walking

02 Sep WALKING FOOTBALL SESSIONS CONTINUE TO GROW!

Posted at 09:10h in Foundation News, Health by

A group of over 50s have been learning skills and meeting new people at the Huddersfield Town Foundation’s weekly Walking Football sessions!

Walking Football is played to the same rules as the standard game but with a few key differences.

There is no running or jogging allowed, either with or without the ball, and tackling and physical collisions are kept low impact to ensure the game is played comfortably for all participants.

Its aim is to help people get fit or maintain an active lifestyle, whatever their age or level of fitness. Similarly, it can be particularly useful for anybody recovering from an injury.

The sport also has a vital social element, giving people who could potentially become isolated the opportunity to develop and maintain new relationships.

Club Ambassador Andy Booth has also visited and taken part on occasion, imparting his knowledge and sharing stories from his playing career.

Walking

On the impact of the programme regular attendee Sean Downey, 57, commented:

“I have just retired early during the pandemic and this is my favourite weekly event in my calendar – it keeps me fit and sane!”

74-year-old David Hargreaves added:

“I enjoy playing football with some really nice lads. It also gets me out of the washing up!”

The Town Foundation’s Health and NCS Coordinator Evan Hall is also pleased with the way the initiative has started:

“It’s been great to build a strong group of regular attendees so quickly, as it has made the sessions really enjoyable to coach.

“Our thanks go to Locala for their continued support and to the Football Foundation for funding this provision, allowing sessions like these to improve the quality of life of people in our local community.”

The group meet every Tuesday from 10am-11am at the DRAM Centre in Huddersfield, HD5 9RP.

Should you wish to give it a go, please contact the Town Foundation’s staff team in the first instance via email: enquiries@htafcfoundation.com or 01484 468205. This session is free of charge.

For further reading and information, please visit the Walking Football Association website here: https://thewfa.co.uk/ and visit the Town Foundation’s official club page here: https://thewfa.co.uk/directory/huddersfield-town-foundation/.