2019 League Preview
2019 League Preview
The Greater Manchester Walking Football League is now in it’s third year and is again showing growth in all age categories. With the Spring season fast approaching, we have a few changes to announce in this 2019 league preview.
With the registration deadline on the 28th February, this is currently the league set up situation. More teams may yet register in any of the age categories.
The over 60’s league will now comprise four divisions. New Teams Chorley FC Yellows, Manchester Corinthians B, Man City B, Mancom, Preston NE SW and Rochdale Wanderers will compete in Division 4. With the existing three divisions and the venue full to capacity, this fourth division will be played on the same dates as the over 70’s league, that is the third Thursday in the month.
The over 65’s league has also seen some growth with Manchester Corinthians, Rochdale Wanderers and Wakefield Wanderers joining us. This will mean a third division and this league and venue is almost full to capacity too.
The new over 70’s league will kick off with seven teams, AFC Blackpool Senior Seasiders, Bury Relics, Man City, Mancom, Preston NE SW, Rochdale AFC Strollers and Tameside Striders.
In common with most leagues and tournaments we are adopting the FA Laws Of The Game, which the National Governing Body for walking football announced in September last year. We were hoping to implement them in last years Autumn league but unfortunately they were published too late.
We recently held a meeting to discuss the FA LOTG with our referees and a two hour discussion proved to be well worthwhile. The FA allow some Local Competition Rules, which we have also added to their own laws. These have already been issued to all clubs and can also be found HERE.
There are some changes to our rules on running and contact, which although we are seeing less of, still needs to be eradicated completely. Our Local Competition Rules are in red italics in the document. We remain a NON CONTACT league, which the vast majority of teams demand.
The last change is the removal of the Golden Gloves award. Many have stated that although the keeper may have done well to concede few goals, the real reason is the quality of their teams defence.
Finally, in this 2019 league preview we would remind all team organisers, managers and players that upon signing the Team Entry Form that they consent to any filming or images being used on social media or website articles promoting the league.
Let’s have another great season of walking football played in the correct manner and spirit.
You can also find us on Facebook.
Comments welcome below.
You already do Steve.
Hi, I play walking football at Manchester City in the community I’m 51 and looking to join a league team in Manchester. Can any one help please thank you.
Great news, looking like a great season to come. A lot of hard work involved I’ll bet.
Pity about the golden gloves being abandoned, we won the 70’s tournaments at Heywood and Wigan thanks to some great saves by our keeper, Steve Hyde.
Keep up the good work, here’s to another successful season. 🐝🏆🏆
Thanks Bill. Great to see the League continuing to grow.
Now that the Golden Gloves Award is abandoned does that give goalkeepers the right to admonish out players
for giving goals away (particularly penalties !!!!) even more than we did before!
Bring on March.