New Walking Football scheme is coming to Banbury

As football fever grips the nation, a new opportunity is coming to Banbury, helping even more people to take part in the national game.
Walking Football’s coming home to Banbury (Image of the Bicester Fossils Walking Football Club players and photo from Cherwell District Council)Walking Football’s coming home to Banbury (Image of the Bicester Fossils Walking Football Club players and photo from Cherwell District Council)
Walking Football’s coming home to Banbury (Image of the Bicester Fossils Walking Football Club players and photo from Cherwell District Council)

Walking Football is played by people aged 50 and over, offering an accessible way to get involved in a team sport that requires no level of physical fitness or ability.

Cherwell District Council is working with the Oxfordshire Football Association, Age UK and Banbury United to bring free regular introductory sessions to the town. They are launching a new scheme with an aim at making Walking Football more accessible.

Cherwell’s lead member for leisure and sport, Cllr Phil Chapman, said: “Just because you might not be as quick as Marcus Rashford, doesn’t mean you have to hang up your boots.

Walking Football is coming to Banbury (photo from the FA)Walking Football is coming to Banbury (photo from the FA)
Walking Football is coming to Banbury (photo from the FA)

"Walking Football has huge health benefits, both to your physical and mental wellbeing, and it’s also great fun. Men and women of all abilities are able to play together, making it the ideal, sociable sport for everyone to get involved.”

Walking Football is a unique amateur sport, first created by John Croot in 2011. It is similar to the Association Football version of the game, with the same basic rules and ball skills.

The sessions in Banbury will start as a fun introduction to the sport, but there is the possibility of forming an official club to take part in competitive games in the future.

Cherwell Strollers started in a similar way in 2014 with the help of CDC and has gone from strength to strength. They run two regular teams - Cherwell Strollers and Cherwell Amblers that play in tournaments and the Thames Valley League at Bisham Abbey, Marlow.

Walking Football is coming to Banbury (photo from the FA)Walking Football is coming to Banbury (photo from the FA)
Walking Football is coming to Banbury (photo from the FA)

Stan Horlock, who plays for The Strollers, said: “Walking football has given us a new lease of life and we have made new friends. It keeps us reasonably fit, and for me to be walking out in football kit to play competitive matches well into my 60s makes me smile every time!”

Bicester Fossils Walking Football Club started in a similar way and now play regular games at Whitelands Farm Sports Ground.

Steve Payne, chairman of Bicester Fossils Walking Football Club, said: “Since its formation in April 2018, The Fossils has developed into a caring, friendly club and has made a real difference to our members. Old football friends are meeting up again and new life-long friendships are being formed. There’s a wide range of footballing abilities with all over fifties welcome!”

Age UK Oxfordshire has funded the sessions through their Generation Games programme.

Alastair Thomas, head of exercise and physical activity at Age UK Oxfordshire, said: “We are delighted to be working with such great partners to deliver a new walking football group in Banbury. It's a great opportunity to reengage with or try football for the first time.”

Cherwell District Council’s Youth Activators will run the free weekly sessions. These will start at Spiceball Country Park on Monday June 28, between 5 and 6pm, moving to Banbury United’s Community Stadium once planned improvement works are completed.

As the weather inevitably deteriorates over the winter, sessions will move to Spiceball Leisure Centre and cost £2.

For more information and to get your name down, email [email protected] or call 01295 753749.