Manchester Walking Football April 2026
Manchester Walking Football April 2026
Reporter: Kevin Williams
Week 1 – Over 70s Division 1 & Over 60s Division 1
Over 70s Report
There was a marked improvement in the weather that greeted the teams yesterday, but there was change in the competitiveness shown by everyone involved.
Only Bury Relics, Tameside Striders Blues and Winstanley Walkers recorded victories, with 7 of the 10 games ending in a 0-0 stalemate. It’s no surprise that the former two top the table, albeit with Moston Brook up there too, but the Wigan side will be happy to have notched up a welcome win to leave Salcom holding up the others.
There are no unbeaten records in this division, after just 8 games each, surely an indication that things could be tight all the way to promotion and relegation in June?
Over 60s Report
This division is topped and tailed by Bolton sides, and I know for a fact that the Bolton Arena Blues, currently propping up the table, are far from a bad team. That suggests that their counterparts, simply named Bolton Arena, who lead by just a point at this stage, are a force to be reckoned with, and they are! They were very impressive today, winning all four of their matches against very well organised teams.
Fleetwood Town Flyers weren’t too shabby themselves, claiming the points in three of their four encounters, being foiled just the once by a useful Manchester Old Boys outfit. The top two have already opened up a sizeable gap and their tussles over the coming months will prove critical in deciding where the trophy goes come Christmas time [there, I’ve managed to get the first mention of the year in!].
Wakefield Wanderers, Manchester Old Boys, Burnley Clarets and Winstanley Walkers occupy comfortable mid table berths, although we all know that can change in a matter of half a dozen games.
In one of my matches today, Manchester Old Boys looked to be heading for a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Clarets, but two goals in the dying minutes rescued a point. 3 points separates the bottom four, with Ribble Valley WFC, Salcom [the only team without a win to their name so far, but only three losses], Blackpool Senior Seasiders and the aforementioned Bolton Arena Blues all hoping to string a few results together before the half term break.
Week 2 – Over 70s Division 2 & Over 60s Division 2
Over 70s Report
The Blackpool Senior Seasiders Belles swept in from the Fylde coast on Wednesday and what an impact they made! If there are any Male Chauvinists still walking this earth, they’ll be distraught to hear that the girls kept 3 clean sheets, in the process of hoovering up an impressive tally of 8 points from their four fixtures.
To save the men’s blushes, they stopped short of wiping the floor with anyone, and hung nobody out on the line; but joking aside they were a seriously good team [along with three male team mates] and gave all of the regulars at Heywood a very difficult time. Their passing was top notch and they could have scored even more than the three they managed. Well done Ladies, we hope to see you again soon!
Elsewhere, Rochdale AFC Strollers couldn’t put a foot right in their opening matches, but salvaged some face with a last match win against Burnley Clarets, who it’s got to be said suffered even more than their Lancashire neighbours. Both Ribble Valley WFC and Panthers WFC performed creditably on the day, but the spotlight was on the ladies [and their gentlemen assistants!], and quite rightly so.
Over 60s Report
Rochdale AFC Stroller’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end in yet another closely fought tussle with their old rivals Manchester Corinthians. It was always going to come down to either a piece of magic or an unfortunate slip, and this time it was the latter. However, it didn’t stop the Dale progressing to the top of the table, a pretty rare sight in recent years!
Corinthians themselves will be happy enough, as they and Bury Relics Blues chase second placed Moston Brook FC, who lie just a point off the top. All of the top four enjoyed pretty good days, but with the top 7 separated by only 7 points [add Bury Relics Whites, Wakefield Wanderers Whites and Panthers WFC to the aforementioned teams] it only takes one successful morning to change the landscape.
I managed to catch all of the three bottom teams in action today, and the fact that Preston North End Senior Whites, North Manchester WFC and Rochdale AFC Striders occupy those positions is testimony to the strength of this league.
Week 3 – Over 75s Division 1, Over 70s Division 3 & Over 65s Division 1
Over 75s Report
Rochdale AFC Strollers remain the only side without a win to their name after two rounds have been played, and lie bottom five points adrift. Only two points separate the top four, and it’s anyone’s guess who will string together a few results to build up a lead in the coming weeks.
Certainly Bury Relics look hard to beat, and haven’t been so far, but like all of their closest challengers have won just a couple of games. With Tameside Striders, Blackpool Senior Seasiders and Ribble Valley Invincibles taking points from each other, this picture seems destined to be a bit blurred for the immediate future.
Over 70s Report
Preston North End Senior Whites enjoyed a good day on Wednesday, claiming three victories and a draw to shoot five points clear at the top of the table, with only long time rivals Bolton Arena clinging onto their coat tails. It’s too early to declare anyone winners yet, but the other three contestants will need to shake a leg [or two] before too long!
The Arena boys were on the scoresheet in every game, apart from their stalemate with the league leaders, and will be looking forward to having another crack next month.
It does however, already look like a three way fight for the other clubs, with a point separating new boys Airbus Buccaneers, Tameside Striders Greens and Rochdale AFC Striders.
Over 65s Report
Burnley Clarets very own Jim Bowden regularly helps me out with a few observations on his clubs games, which is much appreciated. He was spot on [again, I know!] with his views on the standard of football in this division today. Jim’s Burnley side are a very useful outfit, and sit mid table, but they were pushed to the limit today by five tough matches on the bounce. There’s no hiding place here says Jim, and I couldn’t agree more.
He was also right about the outstanding performances put in by Claret’s keeper Pat Thompson, who included a penalty save against near neighbours Ribble Valley WFC in his repertoire. Pat is just one of an amazing contingent of excellent goalkeepers in the GMWFL, take a bow Gentlemen!
It’s a familiar story at the top, Wakefield Wanderers already hold a commanding lead and it will be hard to catch them if past seasons are anything to go by. Bolton Arena [not for the only time this year] are chasing hard in second spot.
Winstanley Walkers and Manchester Corinthians are the bread in the sandwich that is the aforementioned Burnley Clarets, who themselves are being hard pressed by Blackpool Senior Seasiders, Ribble Valley WFC, Preston North End Senior Whites, and somewhat surprisingly maybe, Curzon Ashton FC. Bury Relics are still looking for that elusive first win of the season, hopefully not too far way for that excellent set of lads.
Week 4 – Over 70s Division 4 & Over 65s Division 2
Over 70s Report
Passing the time of day with a fellow spectator at Wednesday’s matches, they advised me that they thought that both teams in front of us, Harrogate Strays and Curson Ashton FC, would be in the division above by the end of the season. They weren’t talking out of turn either, because the goalless draw they battled out in an excellent game, edged them both even further away from the other three teams in Division Four.
With the greatest of respect to the others, they can’t realistically be described as contenders, as there is a 12 and 11 point gap respectively between those clubs and the remainder, Wakefield Wanderers, Fleetwood Town Flyers and Moston Brook FC Greens. All very capable teams who are all on 6 points.
I think it’s fair to say that the focus of each remaining rounds of fixtures will be firmly on these two, think I’ll pop round next month too, to be entertained!
Over 65s Report
It was a beautiful, if breezy day at the Costa Del Heywood on Thursday; no complaints from officials, players or spectators though as conditions settled down as the morning wore on.
Division 2 is looking likely to be a bit more of a contest than the top league, as although once again a Wakefield Strollers side lead the table, they are closely grouped with Wigan Walkers who look a very decent team. Behind those front runners, a compact group of six led by Panthers WFC are separated by just 3 points, with every one having lost at least one game this season.
Rochdale WFC founder member Steve Colesby was left searching the memory bank, to see if he could recall a previous time when both their Strollers and Striders had finished the day unbeaten and without conceding a goal. He couldn’t, and it was a nice little piece of club history for the Dale. A bonus for the Striders too, in that they climbed off the bottom of the table to leave Clarets Casuals holding the wooden spoon, albeit only for now.
On a much brighter note for the Lancashire club, they were able to welcome back club sponsor and goalkeeper Karl Greenwood into the team. Karl was unlucky enough to break his foot at Heywood last year, and he is a welcome addition to the Casuals in their fight to move onwards and upwards. Welcome back Karl!
With Bolton Arena Blues, Moston Brook FC, Salcom and Tameside Striders Whites firmly in the picture, it could be a long way into the year before a leading pack emerges.
Comments welcome below.
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What great reporting from Kevin, our team (Harrogate Strays), having just joined the GMWFL in the over 70’s League Division 4, are suitably impressed with the organisation, set up, facilities, refereeing standard and the walking football quality being played along with the follow up reporting. It is impressive and we thank you for it Kevin.
Good morning Derek. My apologies, I’ve just seen your very kind post from late April. Thanks very much, it’s a pleasure to be part of such a great organisation as the GMWFL, working alongside some excellent people. I’m sure you and your colleagues from Harrogate will be a credit to our league too.
See you soon, Kevin.
Does anyone have the scores & tables of 2016 Martin Dawson trophy? even if only scores from your own club.
Agree with all Kevin’s remarks about the Blackpool women, good footballers every one. However the league rules need a change to prevent from next year 50-odd year old women from playing against 70-plus men. The footballing merits of women are now on a par with men, and we are bound to see more and more moving into our walking game. But a 20-odd year gap between our older players and younger women who are much more agile is just too much.
John W, Burnley Clarets.
Any rule changes or amendments need to be proposed and seconded for voting on by all clubs at the next AGM.
👍
Good evening, John.
I feel I must give our considered reply to your concerns and outline the situation we faced. Blackpool had to field two 70s teams last Wednesday as we had already committed to a competition in Glasgow, believing that we would be in Div 3 at Heywood (next week). As you know we were belatedly “reprieved from relegation” and remained with you in Div 2. Hence the need to divide our resources based on availability and ability. The unacceptable alternative would have been to withdraw from one or the other and place problems on their admins and the organisation of fixtures.
Thank you for your appreciation of the silky skills and determination demonstrated by our “young” women. They are very good aren’t they?
On that point the women who played were – 58, 62, 64 and 65 respectively which somewhat undermines your argument about their inclusion with a “20 odd year gap” advantage. They thoroughly enjoyed their day out with the older generation of footballers using their abilities to match the size and power of all our opponents. We also played a 79 year old veteran goalkeeper and a 76 year old centre forward as we had injury issues to deal with as well.
We do hope that this hasn’t soured relationships between our clubs as we always enjoy the competitive nature of our encounters. We also wouldn’t want you to think we had compromised the integrity of the GMWFL, being one of the founder members of the league set up some 10 years ago.
The 50+ age inclusion for women at 70s age range was heatedly debated some 15 months ago at the AGM by all the teams represented there. See you in May and June when we can have a face to face informed debate. We have a very difficult team selection to go through.
Best regards.
Thanks Steve. I’ve only just wandered to the end of Kevin’s reports and seen your remarks. First, there is no souring of relations between our clubs, far from it. We always enjoy playing you, and by all means carry on with your lady members, they are a credit to your club. And it must be something in that sea air to keep them looking so young.
Please don’t think badly of me, I was articulating what some of my squad members were saying. On a side note I have a long-term interest in women’s football, as my sister was something of a pioneer. I remember watching her playing for Burnley Ladies FC in the early 60s in the days that women footballers were the devil incarnate, according to the FA blazer boys. And only last week I found on Facebook a picture of her team in 1962, something I had never seen before. She is no longer with us but I will never forget her passion for playing, and supporting Burnley FC.
Brilliant days football played as usual in a competitive and friendly way 👍⚽️😎