Manchester Walking Football Autumn 2017 Update

The Manchester Walking Football Autumn 2017 Update brings the news that we now have 3 divisions. A big welcome to the new teams, Bolton Wanderers B, Bury Relics, Nash Bees, Roach Dynamos and Wakefield Wanderers.

AFC Blackpool Very Senior Seasiders have not been able to field a side in September due to holidays but hopefully they will join us in October to make it three divisions of five teams. They will however start in division 3 if they are able to rejoin us.

With only four teams in division 2 due to Blackpool’s omission and five new teams joining the league, one of the five new teams had to be placed in division 2 to fill the division. A draw was made and Roach Dynamos were the team pulled out of the hat.

So we now have five teams in divisions 1 and 2, and four teams in division 3. Bolton Wanderers and Nash now have two teams in the league and Wakefield Wanderers, who last year won the Martin Dawson Memorial Trophy, have decided to join the league. With the two new clubs, Bury Relics and Roach Dynamos deciding that they were ready for competitive walking football, it promises to be an interesting season. I am sure they will not regret their decision to join us.

The fixtures for the September session are now online here or can be viewed on the drop down menus for your respective division on our FA Full Time website here. The League Rules, Code of Conduct and the websites of clubs that have bothered to send me details are also listed.

All 4 Pitches In Use At The Heywood Sports Village, April 2017. Foreground Vintage Celtic v Rochdale AFC Strollers, Background Left Bolton Wanderers v AFC Blackpool Senior Seasiders, Background Centre Fleetwood Town Flyers v Rochdale Striders, Background Right Maccabi Old Codgers v AFC Blackpool Very Senior Seasiders.

One decision we made in this Manchester Walking Football Autumn 2017 Update was that photo ID (passport, driving licence or bus pass) was to be presented at registration for EVERY session. The main reason for this was that it makes registration faster for whoever has the task on the day. We did experiment with looking at past registration sheets but found it too time consuming. Also it is open to abuse, anyone under 60 could give a name previously registered and play under age. Not that we think any of the teams would actually do this but it is a possibility.

The Martin Dawson Memorial Trophy will be played on Sunday 10th September at Heywood and there are a few teams in the league who haven’t yet entered. If you want to enter what promises to be another great days walking football email me on this Link and I will send a Team Registration Form. Huddersfield Town, Sheffield Vulcans and Tameside Striders have so far joined the six teams from the GMWF League already registered.