WFLA Inter League Cup
The Greater Manchester Walking Football League over 65s and over 70s representative teams both retained their trophies in the Walking Football Leagues Alliance Inter League Cup at the Redditch Utd FC ground on 22nd May. Full report to follow.
Kevin Williams
The Greater Manchester Walking Football League are delighted to announce that Kevin Williams has accepted an invitation to join the League Management Committee.
Kevin, who is Chairman of Rochdale WFC, brings a wealth of experience in coaching, team management, organisation, sponsorship and grant funding.
GMWFL May Report
The ongoing report for the GMWFL May fixtures is HERE.
Sad News
Blackpool FC Senior Seasiders over 75’s player Ken Philbin has sadly passed away. All at the Greater Manchester Walking Football League send their condolences to Ken’s family, friends and his team mates at the Seasiders.
Simon Atherfold
Our GMWFL over 65s representative team manager Simon Atherfold has been appointed as the new EWFC (England Walking Football Community, who are now the foremost organisation for English international walking football), men’s Over 65 manager. Simon brings a great wealth of Walking Football experience both on and off the pitch as a player and manager with Kingsmaid WFC along with his considerable coaching experience.
We wish him well in his new role.
GMWFL Referees
Two of our referees have announced their retirement from officiating because of health issues. All at the GMWFL wish Bob Ingham and Les Lomax all the very best for the future and thank them for their service to the league.
Message from Les: Due to medical issues, it is with great regret and sadness that I have taken the very difficult decision to retire from refereeing at Heywood.
Next month I will be 73 and feel that I cannot guarantee giving my best, and you will agree that this is unfair to teams/players and most importantly you guys. I would like to thank each and everyone of the league for giving me the opportunity to be part of the greatest league in walking football.
I will look forward to meeting you on occasions that I visit too watch and have a cuppa with you. Give my regards to all the teams and wish them all the best. I am planning on coming up on 22nd June.
GMWFL Ladies Over 50s Team
The GMWFL Ladies Over 50s team is taking shape thanks to manager Lesley Wright. The team are entered in the WFLA National Cup and will play in the Grand Finals at the Redditch Utd ground on 9th September.
WFLA Cup Competitions 2023
The WFLA League Champions Cup and WFLA Inter League Cup will both be played at the Redditch United FC ground on 20th and 21st May respectively.
Bury Relics, Club Kingsmaid, Rochdale AFC Strollers and Wakefield Wanderers all qualify for the League Champions Cup. The GMWFL will enter three age category teams in the Inter League Cup, over 60s, over 65s and over 70s. Unfortunately the GMWFL Ladies over 50s were the only team to enter that age category, hopefully more ladies inter league sides will compete next year.
Lancashire FA Funding For Clubs
The Lancashire FA can offer funding and support to walking football clubs. See their page HERE.
We now have 54 teams involved in three age categories, 23 teams in the over 60s league, 17 teams in the over 65s league and 14 teams in the over 70s league. See Calendar below for your fixture dates in the 2022 Autumn season. The divisions and tables are on the dropdown menu ‘Fixtures, Results & Tables’.
Calendar 2023
| Date | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1st March | Over 70s Division 1 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 2nd March | Over 60s Divisions 1 & 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 8th March | Over 70s Division 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 9th March | Over 60s Divisions 3 & 4 Cancelled | 11:00-13:00 |
| 15th March | Over 70s Division 3 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 16th March | Over 65s Divisions 1 & 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 22nd March | Over 60s Division 5 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 23rd March | Over 65s Divisions 3 & 4 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 5th April | Over 70s Division 1 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 6th April | Over 60s Divisions 1 & 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 12th April | Over 70s Division 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 13th April | Over 60s Divisions 3 & 4 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 19th April | Over 70s Division 3 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 20th April | Over 65s Divisions 1 & 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 26th April | Over 60s Division 5 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 27th April | Over 65s Divisions 3 & 4 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 3rd May | Over 70s Division 1 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 4th May | Over 60s Divisions 1 & 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 10th May | Over 70s Division 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 11th May | Over 60s Divisions 3 & 4 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 17th May | Over 70s Division 3 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 18th May | Over 65s Divisions 1 & 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 24th May | Over 60s Division 5 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 25th May | Over 65s Divisions 3 & 4 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 1st June | Over 60s Divisions 1 & 2 | 11:00-13:00 Presentation & Food 13:30-14:30 |
| 7th June | Over 70s Division 1 | 11:00-13:00 Presentation 13:00 |
| 8th June | Over 60s Divisions 3 & 4 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 14th June | Over 70s Division 2 | 11:00-13:00 Presentation 13:00 |
| 15th June | Over 65s Divisions 1 & 2 | 11:00-13:00 Presentation & Food 13:30-14:30 |
| 21st June | Over 70s Division 3 | 11:00-13:00 Presentation 13:00 |
| 22nd June | Over 65s Divisions 3 & 4 | 11:00-13:00 Presentation & Food 13:30-14:30 |
| 28th June | Over 60s Division 5 | 11:00-13:00 Presentation 13:00 |
| 29th June | Over 60s Divisions 3 & 4 | 11:00-13:00 Presentation & Food 13:30-14:30 |
Podcast On The GMWFL & The Health Benefits Of Walking Football
Click On Image To Listen To The Podcast
FA Message On The Revised LOTG April 2022
Salcom Walking Football Article
Chris Vickers of Salcom has written an article mentioning the GMWFL, it can be read HERE.
Greater Manchester Walking Football League
The Greater Manchester Walking Football League was launched initially in November 2016 to provide regular competitive football for the many over 60’s walking footballers. The full history of the league 2016-2020 can be read HERE.
Steve Colesby is now the Treasurer and Fixtures Secretary and Garry Pearce is now the Referees Appointments and Disciplinary Secretary.
We were the first FA affiliated over 60s league in the country and have attracted teams from across the Greater Manchester area, Cheshire, Cumbria, Fylde Coast, Lancashire and Yorkshire.
The Greater Manchester Walking Football League runs in seasons, Spring and Autumn, with each season consisting of 4 monthly fixture dates. All fixture dates take place on the new 3G facility at Heywood Sports Village, West Starkey Street, Heywood, OL10 4TW.
Further innovation came in the form of an over 65’s League, which was introduced in February 2018, where seven teams entered the inaugural division. In the same year two over 70’s Cup Tournaments were introduced, probably the first in the country. We started an over 70’s League in March 2019, with seven teams competing, the first over 70’s league in the country.
The league has a growing reputation as one of the best in the country, with many teams saying it’s the best organised league they have played in, with excellent referees, a great modern venue and it’s close distance to the motorway network.
If your team would like to join us then please use the Contact Us page.