2025 Season Review & 2026 Season Preview

2025

The change of format for the over 60s and over 65s from 4 divisions of 5 teams to 2 divisions of 10 teams seems to have been a success. It would be good to do the same for the over 70s but with only 2 pitches available it’s just not viable. Three up and three down in the 60s and 65s, and two up and two down in the 70s, also seems to have been a good idea.

No one club has dominated the honours list for 2025, which is good to see. The winners and runners up in all divisions have been amongst a good many teams.

As players age the older categories are growing in numbers and an over 75s league, which was introduced in 2024, will no doubt grow in the coming years.

The league representative teams had another good year, the over 70s gaining runners up spot in the WFLA Inter League Cup in June. We also travelled to the Isle of Man for the annual trip to play their much improved National sides and the Birmingham County WFL, winning 4, drawing 1 and losing 2.

Wakefield Wanderers were winners of the WFLA Over 65s League Champions Cup and Bolton Arena won the FA Over 60s Walking Football Cup, outlining the strength of teams in the GMWFL.

It was good to see that not one single red card was issued in the 1008 fixtures played this season. There were 36 blue cards issued with 58% of those for DOGSO offences and 25% for dissent, which is 1 card in 28 fixtures, a great record.

Thanks must go to our excellent pool of referees, who must be the best in any of the countries leagues. Also thanks to my fellow committee members, Paul Gardner, Steve Colesby, Garry Pearce, Kevin Williams and Bob Hartley for all their hard work, which makes the GMWFL arguably the best league in the country.

2026

We have quite a few new teams wishing to join the GMWFL, especially in the over 70s age category. This means a new Division 4 for the 70s. For those clubs still to register you have just a few days before the deadline.

Winstanley Walkers our 2025 over 60s winners and Wakefield Wanderers over 65s winners have both entered the prestigious Walking Football Leagues Alliance League Champions Cup. Disappiontingly, both Bury Relics our over 70s winners and runners up Manchester Corinthians both declined an invitation to take part.

One problem is the current ages of Treasurer Steve Colesby and myself. We are both now 80 and obviously not knowing how long we have left, it has to be asked who will take over in order that this league continues to grow and thrive?

What is needed is a couple of volunteers, preferably far younger and in it for the long term. One to take over the role of Treasurer and one to take over the Secretary position, which involves maintaining both the GMWFL website and the FA Full Time website (knowledge of HTML coding needed), and also the Fixtures. If anyone is interested please get in touch and a Role Description will be emailed.