Bournemouth Walking Football Club has experienced an “explosion of interest” since lockdown ended, with people keen to get out and improve both their mental and physical fitness.
However the local side, who play at the pitches at Littledown with sessions available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, are still on the look-out for new members.
Club chairman Alan Sparkes, 77, said that the team, which works in conjunction with AFC Bournemouth, has only gone from strength to strength in recent months.
Speaking with the Echo, he said: “We’ve expanded a lot recently, part of it coming out of lockdown and part of it being modern thinking with health and fitness.
“These days we do not need to retire (from football) and can come into walking football to improve general health, fitness and mental health.”
A variety of ages take to the field to play in recreational games, leagues and a variety of tournaments, but Mr Sparkes says the social aspect is the best part.
He added: “Camaraderie is very important and something we lose when we stop playing, well now we can reclaim that and have good fun as well as being physically good.
“Mentally it does help. Several people have had strokes or heart attacks, others have conditions like arthritis.
“One guy has dementia and off the field can’t really relate socially but when he plays he’s right back on, playing can help brilliantly.”
Playing walking football, as the same suggests, means no running but also its play on a five or six-a-side pitch, there’s no tackling from behind and the ball does not go above head height.
Recently the Bournemouth side featured on Match of the Day spotlight highlighting the clubs work in community.
However, without sponsors the teams would struggle to play with Mr Sparkes keen to get more on board.
He said: “It's thanks to our sponsors that supplied the shirts that we can play, but we’d like more as the team grows.”
https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/17438631.new-walking-football-team-launched-stroke-survivors/
Currently 85 players represent the team across a variety of age groups, levels and abilities, who take part in different sessions including training, friendlies and competitive games.
Anyone that is interested in signing up should visit the Bournemouth Walking Football Club’s website.
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