WALKING football has officially kicked off in Knightswood bringing a new opportunity to the area for older men to get involved in sports.
Sessions of the slower-paced version of the game started around three weeks ago, with the next scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 19.
Organisers Broomhill Sports Club (BSC) brought the sport to Peterson Park Hall after watching similar activites take place elsewhere in Scotland.
Steven Prince, BSC chair and co-founder, said: “We saw it happening in other places and decided to contact Knightswood Connects who are the group that provides services for older people in the area.
“We like the idea of the social side of the sport, providing some food and giving people the chance to talk because as is probably well-known men aren’t always so good at socialising perhaps outwith the normal pubs and watching football.
“If you played football many, many moons ago the idea of going back into a dressing room and speaking to other people is fantastic.
“When you stop playing football one of the things you really do miss is being part of a group. I mean I haven’t personally played for 30 years now.
“We are a smaller sports club, we have football for young kids starting from about three years of age, then they move on to youth, then adult so this was the natural progression from there.
“We’re open to anybody, the only rule is that you are over 50 years old.”
The group is led by BSC’s coach Gareth Laurie who has been coaching at the club for ten years.
Gareth told the Post that the mental health benefits of getting involved in sports at any age is the most important part.
He added: “It’s good for the mind and it’s good for the body.
"You can see here people are sitting having a cup of tea and chatting away, some people don’t get to talk to many people during the week so this will be their outlet, that’s so important.
“To be honest I think the mental health aspect is the most important part of it.
"In all age groups going right down to youth, I think there should always be an opportunity for people of mixed abilities to be able to play sports, there should always be an avenue for people to get involved in sports.
“I have been volunteering in a couple of additional support needs schools and sport has just opened up whole new worlds for some people.
“Boys and girls who found it hard to communicate are now having full conversations.
"A few of the pupils have also gone for work experience because of football, it’s great.”
Similar to games of five and seven-a-side the sessions are non-competitive and there is no expectation of commitment.
The matches take place between 11am and 12noon on Wednesdays with food being served in the hall afterwards.
Willie Milligan has travelled from Eaglesham for the past two weeks to take part in the sport.
He said: “The first reason I got involved was to keep fit and the second was the comradery aspect of it.
“The sport isn’t new for me, I played with Drumchapel United yesterday and we won the Glasgow Life Cup.
“I’ve played football since I was probably old enough to walk and this means that I can keep playing football.
“The social side to it is fantastic, you meet people from all walks of life. I think football is a great leveller in many ways.”
Anyone who wants to get involved are being encouraged to head along to one of the sessions. Entry is £3 and can be paid at the door.
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