Whilst the FIFA World Cup is in full flow, there are plenty of opportunities for fans to get involved in the game themselves – including those who thought their football careers were behind them - as a new Walking Football Centre launches in Keswick next week.

Aimed at men and women aged 50+ who want to get back into sporting activity, Walking Football is quickly becoming the growth sport in the country and around the world

The slower paced version of the game, which doesn’t allow any running or tackling, is a fantastic opportunity for a generation of players to continue, or get back into, playing the beautiful game.

Details

• Keswick, Fitz Park Multi-Use Games Area
• Thursday 5 July
• 10am-12pm
• Rubberised surface, no football boots
• Please bring plenty of fluids
• Turn up and play session; no pre-booking required

Ray Sempill, Cumberland FA Football Development Officer, said: “Walking Football is a brilliant format of the game which any ambulant player can access.  The benefits of these sessions are massive to participants on both a physical and social level. We are seeing more centres starting up each year and becoming really strong social groups. We hope that this TryAthalon event will kick start a sustainable club in Keswick.”

Diane Cannon, from Keswick Lions, added: “As part of Lions Club International's worldwide campaign to turn back the rise in new cases of Diabetes, Keswick Lions are delighted to invite the community to have a go at a new sport or activity as part of our TRYathlon. All the sessions are free and aimed at beginners, so everyone is welcome.

With more centres playing Walking Football across the county over the past couple of years, The FA People’s Cup was the first chance for Walking Footballers to play in a structured competition in Cumberland during February 2018, with St Joseph’s School in Workington hosting the second competition in May.

David Wise of St Josephs commented: “Workington St Joseph’s Walking Football group have been in existence since it was started in 2016 through funded sessions at the school and has expanded to deliver two sessions per week and play regular friendlies.”

With around 60 regular participants playing weekly across the various centres in Cumberland, there are plenty of opportunities to get back involved in the game or try it for the first time.

Visit our Walking Football page to find out more information on how you can get involved with Centre’s in Carlisle, Penrith, Workington, Wigton, Whitehaven and now Keswick:

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Due to the continued growth of Walking Football across the county, Cumberland FA has set up an online survey to see what competitions teams would like running and what support they require from the County FA. This will help to shape the Walking Football calendar of events in Cumberland moving forward, so please CLICK HERE to put your views forward.

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