It’s now over five years since Colin Gwilym started Bassetlaw Walking Football Club, as it was then called, but now known as Worksop Town Men’s Walking Football Club.
On the first night 10 people turned up, most of whom are still playing today, although sadly they have lost one or two along the way.
Following his success with the men’s club, Colin has now started a ladies section called Bassetlaw Ladies Walking Football Club, with Stef Baran and Malcolm Popple taking over the reins with the men.
Since that first night we have had over 150 men, and women, come down and are still enjoying playing the wonderful game of football.
So, if you want to give it a go, and you are over 55 years old for the men, and over 30 for the ladies, go on down to the Valley Centre in Worksop every Monday at 6.00pm for the men and 7.00pm for the ladies. They would be glad to see you and will try to make you most welcome.
With players of all eligible ages, they are both thankful, and proud, to be able to still play football, with some of them now in their seventies, and a couple in their eighties.
Over the years, Worksop Town Men’s Walking Football Club have played in many competitions, along with some friendlies, and are the present holders of The Bassetlaw Cup, a competition between Worksop and Retford.
But they are most proud of the donations they have been able to make to local charities and good causes over the years. Members pay a small weekly subscription of £3.00 (it’s free for your first week), to pay for the pitch. And, from the balance, they have been able to donate over £3,500 to Bassetlaw Hospice, Prostate Cancer, Parkinson’s UK and local dementia charities. They are always on the lookout for other worthy local charities and have recently been able to give a little assistance to a young local lad with leukaemia to try and help him and his family.
With the help of Tesco, Darren Louth Plumbing, B&Q, topped up with their own fundraising efforts from both the men’s and ladies’ teams, they are currently in the process of buying a defibrillator, a wonderful piece of equipment to have, but hopefully never have to use!
So, once again, why not go down and give walking football a try? They are sure you will enjoy it.
Or, if you feel you would like to speak to someone at the club about walking football, learn more about who they are or just introduce yourself before going down for a game, then feel free to call Stef Baran on 07927 452892 for the men or contact Sarah Gwilym at BassetlawLWF@outlook.com.