Manchester Walking Football March 2026

Reporter: Kevin Williams

Week 1 – Over 70s Division 1 & Over 60s Division 1

Over 70s Report

On a lovely day for football, or anything really, the 2026 season opened with some very tight encounters. Last year’s champions Bury Relics could only find the net once, but it was enough to edge past Winstanley Walkers, who in the final reckoning of the day could only muster the single point.

The Relics stand in mid table, and will have noticed the flying start that Moston Brook FC have made. I believe a couple of new additions may have bolstered the ranks of the green and blacks. Just a point behind them sit Tameside Striders Blues, on 7 points and looking to mount a challenge. Salcom sit in just fourth position despite remaining unbeaten all day. They’ll be happy enough to keep that run going for a while, with a win or two along the way!

Over 60s Report

It was a beautiful March morning at HSV today, with plenty of good football on show too. The top three in this very competitive division are the only sides to remain unbeaten after just one round of games! That says a lot about the competitiveness of this competition, as do the results with ELEVEN draws from the 24 matches played.

Fleetwood Town Flyers [13 points] and Bolton Arena [11 points] played out a goalless draw at High Noon, but elsewhere recorded very impressive wins without conceding. The other unbeaten side, Winstanley Walkers, are already 4 points behind the leaders, but won’t need telling that there is a very long way to go. With their last gasp, but well deserved, championship victory last year, they of all people know it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Further down the table, there are only 4 points separating 7 teams; Manchester Old Boys head that particular section, with Wakefield Wanderers on their shoulders. Bolton Arena Blues [not to be confused with the team in second spot], Ribble Valley WFC and Burnley Clarets ended the day on four points. The Clarets in particular suffered in a couple of matches, but rallied well during the morning. Salcom and Blackpool Senior Seasiders [last years runners up] prop up the league, but won’t be overly concerned just yet.

Week 2 – Over 75s Division 1, Over 70s Division 2 & Over 60s Division 2

Over 75s Report

Last year’s title winners Bury Relics carried on where they left off, and top the table by a point after claiming one of only two victories in the entire division yesterday. They lead the other winners, Ribble Valley WFC by a point.

With Rochdale AFC Strollers and Tameside Striders just one point behind them and leading bottom club [for now] Blackpool Senior Seasiders by the same margin, it already looks like another close battle for honours in the coming months, with just five goals in the ten games backing that notion up.

 

Over 70s Report

Three teams head into the second month of the new season with unbeaten records, with an average of a goal a game once again proving that teams are becoming better organised and more difficult to score against. Leaders Blackpool Senior Seasiders and Ribble Valley WFC both enjoyed a couple of early victories before cancelling each other out in a goalless draw.

Rochdale AFC Stroller’s Chris Reynolds will be ruing a couple of penalty misses, but knowing Chris, not for long, he’ll be looking to make amends pretty soon. One guy who IS happy with his goal scoring feats yesterday, is Burnley Clarets stalwart John Walton, who I am assured scored an absolute scorcher in their 2-1 win against Panthers WFC, assured by John himself actually. I’m sure it was a cracker John! Panthers WFC themselves will be looking to pick up after a disappointing start to their campaign.

Over 60s Report

There are usually a high percentage of draws in the GMWFL games, but yesterday saw FOURTEEN matches won by one side or another, on a day that really wasn’t suited to playing football. High winds crossed the Starkey Street pitches throughout the morning. However, all ten teams performed with great credit, as did our outstanding referees and League administrators, all of whom could be seeing walking between pitches shaking their heads at one time or another, ‘what AM I doing here?’ seemed to be the question.

Sadly for Rochdale AFC Striders and Preston North End Senior Whites, they couldn’t manage to claim one of the above mentioned wins, and occupy the bottom two places, but it’s early days yet lads! Moston Brook FC look strong, and their draw with Rochdale AFC Strollers kept both teams unbeaten, along with third placed Manchester Corinthians.

Panthers WFC, Wakefield Wanderers Whites and the two Bury Relics outfits, the Blues and Whites, had steady days and sit just behind the leading group, whilst North Manchester WFC acquitted themselves well on their league debut, with the irrepressible Dave Barrett holding court pitch side! Welcome to the league lads.

Week 3 – Over 70s Division 3 & Over 65s Division 1

Over 70s Report

Our new friends from North Wales brought some lovely weather with them, as Airbus Buccaneers debuted in the 3rd Division of the Over 70’s age group. They had a tough introduction, but more than held their own picking up a welcome first win against founding league members Rochdale AFC Striders in just their second match.

Preston North End Senior Whites enjoyed an unbeaten day, the only team to do so; everyone picked up points but the Whites are already three points clear at the top. Steve Colesby proved that age really is no barrier as he sealed Rochdale AFC Striders only win in the opener against Tameside Stiders Greens. It proved to be their only goal and a cracker it was too! Bolton Arena fielded a very experienced side and they won’t be too unhappy sitting in second place at this early stage of the season.

Over 65s Report

Wakefield Wanderers find themselves in an all too familiar place as they ended the opening day top of the pile; dropping just two points in a hard fought draw with Bolton Arena [some might say a point gained against another excellent side] they proceeded to score two in all of their other matches, winning every one.

The other nine clubs are separated by just 6 points, and this Division looks like it will take some time to unravel; a tough ultra competitive competition with no time to take your foot off the pedal.

Blackpool Senior Seasiders may have set something of a record returning home with FIVE draws from 5 games; I’m sure the Seasiders won’t be too unhappy with that haul.

At the end of some fierce confrontations and excellent competitive football, there was a moment to bring a smile to everyone’s faces, as I had the pleasure of refereeing two of the best clubs in the business in my final game of the day, Burnley Clarets and Curzon Ashton FC.

As I blew the whistle to start the game, one of the Burnley lads, always good company on match day, asked me if that was Sainty on the Curzon ‘bench’. I said it was and asked why? He responded by asking if Sainty is on the touchline who’s going to referee the game? Great stuff, and the real reason why we should be doing this, to enjoy ourselves, and a one liner that Sainty would have enjoyed every bit as much as we did!

The game itself was a great advert for walking football, with newly promoted Burnley Clarets taking a two goal lead before being pegged back by a resilient Curzon Ashton FC, before an absolute screamer from the Lancashire club’s Ron Peden claimed all three points.

Week 4 – Over 70s Division 4 & Over 65s Division 2

Over 70s Report

There was a typical Heywood spring welcome for newcomers Harrogate Strays yesterday, with gale force winds, sleet and occasionally hail thrown in to greet them. A couple of them wondered where the huskies were, I think.

But that didn’t put them off one iota, as they promptly raced to the top of the division, winning three and drawing one of their four game start. Patrick Keightley [2] and the well known Tony Breslin [of Wakefield Wanderers fame] amongst the scorers. That they didn’t concede any at all will already have people earmarking them for instant promotion, and who can blame them?

Player Manager Derek Rowe was suitable impressed with the standard of football, the organisation, and refereeing, and is already eyeing that promotion ladder! The Harrogate club really excelled themselves though, when they very kindly donated their £30 match fees to the Brain Tumour Charity Fundraising event that was being held in the Reception area, a class gesture gentlemen, and thank you!

Elsewhere, Curzon Ashton FC are still in touch at the top, with Wakefield Wanderers, Fleetwood Town Flyers, and Moston Brook FC Greens all settling in to the new season, a long way to go lads!

Over 65s Report

I was present at Heywood Sports Village on both Wednesday and Thursday of this week, and I know which I preferred, weather wise! The latter was a beautiful spring day and the football seemed to reflect that, especially where Wakefield Strollers are concerned. They dropped just the two points from 4 games, against Rochdale AFC Strollers, who equalised an outstanding opener with an equally ferocious strike from Steve Ashton, a draw a fair result I think, despite the Dale soaking up some pressure.

Every other team bar the Yorkshire outfit lost a game during the day, with only Clarets Casuals failing to record a win, however they did pick up a trio of useful draws along the way. Just five points separates the nine teams chasing the league leaders, which will surprise nobody given the standard in this competition. It may take 3-4 rounds of games before the picture clears itself. Bolton Arena Blues and Moston Brook FC will be hopeful of maintaining their good starts, as will Wigan Walkers and Tameside Striders Whites.

Salcom will remain hard to beat, with the bottom threesome of Panthers WFC, Clarets Casuals, and Rochdale AFC Striders just a couple of wins in April away from a mid table spot.

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