GMWFL Autumn Season 2022
Registration forms have been emailed to all clubs. The deadline for registration and payment is 31st July.
GMWFL Spring Season June 2022
The report on the June 2022 final sessions of the GMWF Spring League is HERE.
Shorts For Sale
For sale £30, nine pairs of shorts, as new. A copious Large, black with broad white stripe. Contact John (Burnley Clarets) 07912 936412.
WFLA Champions Cup
Both Bury Relics and Manchester Corinthians were successful in their age categories in the Walking Football Leagues Alliance Champions Cups on Saturday 11th June at the Leek Town FC facility. Rochdale AFC Strollers came runners up in two age categories, well done to all.
Bury Relics Winners Over 70s WFLA Champions Cup 2022
Manchester Corinthians Winners Over 65s WFLA Champions Cup 2022
Gary Rathmill
Roach Dynamos have informed us of the passing of one of their founder members, Gary Rathmill. All at the GMWFL, referees and team members offer their condolences to Gary’s family and team mates.
GMWFL Over 60s, 65s & 70s Representative Teams Trophy Wins WFLA Inter League Cup 28.05.22
WFLA Inter League Cup
Congratulations to both our GMWFL 65s & 70s teams who both were winners in their age categories of the Walking Football Leagues Alliance Inter League Cup, played today at the Leek Town FC ground. More details to follow. Also to our 60s team who came close against some very strong opposition.
WFLA Inter League Cup 28.05.22 Podcast. Click Image – Many Involved In The GMWFL Are Interviewed About Walking Football & Their Experiences On The Day.
GMWFL Over 60s Runners Up Playing In The Over 50s Category WFLA Inter League Cup 28.05.22
Back Row Left To Right: Ron Blakelely (manager), Bob Hartley, Stuart Saint, Nick Carter, Clint Walmsley.
Kneeling: Stuart Greaves, Ken Hitchell, Wai Hong Tsang, Vincent Dugdale.
GMWFL Over 65s Winners WFLA Inter League Cup 28.05.22
Back Row Left To Right: Dennis Johnson, Mick Tarpey, George Friemann, Steve Hyde, Stewart White.
Kneeling: Steve Walton, Simon Atherfold, Ron Blakeley (Manager), Tom Jaques.
GMWFL Over 70s Winners WFLA Inter League Cup 28.05.22
Back Row Left To Right: Allan Macleod, Alan Thompson, Terry O’Rourke, Ray Richards, Alf Murphy.
Kneeling: Bill Charlton, Pete Hampson, Ron Blakeley (Manager), Frank Flynn.
More photographs are in the Gallery.
GMWFL Spring Season May 2022
The report on the May 2022 sessions of the GMWFL is HERE.
We now have 52 teams involved in three age categories, 23 teams in the over 60s league, 19 teams in the over 65s league and 10 teams in the over 70s league. See Calendar below for your fixture dates in the 2022 Spring season. The divisions and tables are on the dropdown menu ‘Fixtures, Results & Tables’.
Calendar 2022
| Date | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1st June | Over 70s Division 1 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 2nd June | Over 60s Divisions 1 & 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 8th June | Over 70s Division 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 9th June | Over 60s Divisions 3 & 4 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 15th June | Over 60s Division 5 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 16th June | Over 65s Divisions 1 & 2 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 23rd June | Over 65s Divisions 3 & 4 | 11:00-13:00 |
| 4th September | Over 60s Martin Dawson Memorial Trophy | 12:30-16:00 Presentation & Buffet 16:30-17:30 |
Ukraine Appeal
FA Message On The Revised LOTG April 2022
GMWFL Spring Season April 2022
The report on the April 2022 sessions of the GMWFL is HERE.
Ukraine Emergency Fund
With donations from Manchester Corinthians WFC and Rochdale WFC who each donated £260, plus a donation of his match fees by GMWFL referee Mike Willmore, the total raised is £2046. A presentation was held before the league session on Thursday 21st April.
Salcom Walking Football Article
Chris Vickers of Salcom has written an article mentioning the GMWFL, it can be read HERE.
Burnley Clarets WFC Programme
Burnley Clarets WFC have published a programme for their April fixtures in the GMWFL. It’s a good read and you can find it HERE.
GMWFL Representative Teams
A while ago we asked clubs to nominate players they thought were of the required standard to represent the GMWFL in Inter League Tournaments, some responded some didn’t. We ran three trial sessions for the over 60s, 65s and 70s recently and the standard of football was really excellent.
It will take a good side to beat any of our three teams. The manager, Ron Blakeley, has an unenviable task of picking a squad from the players who attended the trials. We could easily have two teams of equal standard for each age category.
Before we compete in the Walking Football Leagues Alliance Inter League Cup on 28th May, we will arrange a couple of ‘friendly’ fixtures in order that the teams can get used to playing together, although they seem to have achieved that already.
The WFLA Inter League Cup will be contested by FA affiliated leagues from the Dorset WFL, Essex WFL, Greater Manchester WFL, Lancashire WFL, Northern Premier League, Wales Walking Football Federation League and Wiltshire County WFL.
Thanks to Ron Blakeley and Steve Colesby for their work on getting these representative teams together.
GMWFL Spring Season March 2022
The report on the March 2022 sessions of the GMWFL is HERE.
GMWFL Spring Season 2022
GMWFL Players Representing The EWFC England Over 60s Team
The players left to right in the photograph are all from the GMWFL, Dennis Johnson (Club Kingsmaid), Frank White (Fleetwood Town Flyers), Ken Hitchell and Kevin Mooney (both Club Kingsmaid) have been selected for the EWFC England 60s team to play in the forthcoming home internationals in Cardiff in April.
All the players have been training since before Christmas with the England squad in Birmingham. It’s a great accolade to have four players from the GMWF league representing England in the over 60s. Well done Guys!
Burnley Clarets WFC Programme
Burnley Clarets WFC have published a programme for their venture into the GMWFL. Read it HERE.
Official England WF Teams – FA Clarification
This article will clarify the current situation – Read HERE.
GMWF League 2021 Review & 2022 Preview
The GMWF League 2021 review & 2022 preview can be read HERE.
Click Here For The GMWFL Year By Year History
FA Statement
Autumn Season 2021
GMWFL Autumn Season 2021
Presentation To Chairman & League Co-Founder Paul Gardner
Niall O’Donnell
Niall O’Donnell, the organiser of Wakefield Wanderers, features in an article in the Daily Mail. Read it HERE.
Garry Pearce
One of our top GMWFL referees, Garry Pearce, is interviewed on Tameside Radio HERE. Although the interview is from 2018 it’s well worth listening to Garry talk about his experiences in walking football. Garry was also a good goalkeeper before a shoulder injury forced him to turn to refereeing.
Adam Waterhouse, a student at Manchester Metropolitan University needed to create an audio documentary as part of his course. His subject was walking football and how it had changed the lives of the older generation. Adam recently visited Heywood Sports Village to interview players, the results can be heard below.
Lancashire FA Visit Heywood Sports Village
Ian Mackie, of the Lancashire FA recently attended and interviewed players and officials at a Greater Manchester Walking Football League Autumn session.
WFLA
The Greater Manchester Walking Football League are pleased to announce that they are now members of the Walking Football Leagues Alliance. We felt the timing was right for the birth of this organisation in order to develop, support and unify the many walking football leagues across England. Hopefully it will eventually become accepted and approved by the FA for the benefit of all who play competitive walking football. Click HERE for the WFLA website.
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.