Manchester Walking Football November 2019
Manchester Walking Football November 2019
GMWF 60s League
Manchester Walking Football November 2019 was the third session of the 60s Autumn league. All teams played in atrocious conditions with heavy rainfall effecting all the fixtures. Well done to all the ‘lads’ who gave their best despite the weather.
In Division 1 October leaders Bury Relics drop to second spot, two points behind Spring league winners Wakefield Wanderers. Bury could only manage to pick up six points while the Wanderers picked up ten points. The league winners could be decided on their head to head in December.
Rochdale AFC Strollers remain in third spot and go further behind the top two, now seven points behind the Relics. The bottom two also swap places with Bolton Wanderers having a good day picking up five points while Chorley picked up two points. With only one point separating them, once again who is relegated could be decided in the head to head.
Division 2 is as you were with Man City now four points ahead of Manchester Corinthians Reds. It does look to be City’s title, although strange things occur in football. A similar situation occurred in the Autumn 2018 league but in reverse. Corinthians had a four point lead over City and managed to lose the league by one point.
Fleetwood Town Flyers remain in third spot, only three points adrift of the Corinthians. With only one point separating the bottom two in September, AFC Blackpool Senior Seasiders increased that to two points over Northgate Strollers. Whoever drops into Division 3, won’t be there long as the quality of teams in this division are certainly as good as the top division.
As with the 60s Divisions 1 and 2, the players in this week’s fixtures were also subjected to poor weather. A bitterly cold wind and low temperatures made for difficult playing conditions but all fixtures were completed on time.
Division 3 saw Manchester Corinthians Whites pull further ahead of Preston North End Senior Whites. Maximum points on the day ensured the Corinthians have already won the division with four fixtures remaining in December. Preston only managed to pick up four points but have increased their lead over Maccabi from two points in October to three this month.
Maccabi, who are always difficult opponents to play against, had three draws and one loss. Rochdale Striders, three points behind Maccabi in October, have now reduced that to one point with a win, two draws and one loss. Roach Dynamos are still in bottom position now five points adrift of the Rochdale side and look doomed for relegation to Division 4 in next year’s Spring season.
In Division 4 it’s three sections of two teams all on similar points. Salcom and Northgate Rovers are both tied at the top on twenty seven points with Salcom having a better goal difference. In mid table one point separates Moston Brook FC and Rochdale Wanderers. At the bottom one point separates Chorley FC Yellows and Uppermill FC.
Uppermill FC had a better day adding five points to their September and October six to leave them and Chorley fighting to see who is relegated to the proposed Division 5 for the Spring 2020 season.
Moston Brook FC player Neil Griffiths had a fall and broke his collarbone in this session. We all wish him a speedy recovery and hope he is soon back playing at Heywood. See the Home page for more details.
GMWF 65s League
Thankfully the weather was drier today although still very cold.
In Division 1 Bury Relics maintained their eight point lead over Man City at the top of the table. Both teams winning two and drawing two. It looks an odds on bet that the Relics will take the title in December.
Salcom are in third spot, swapping places with Tameside Striders. Salcom had one win and two draws to go three points ahead of the Striders who only managed to pick up two points with two draws and two defeats. The Striders place in the top division however looks likely to be safe with Rochdale AFC Strollers, four points adrift and an inferior goal difference, at the bottom of the table.
The Strollers, once nailed on champions, are now only a shadow of their former selves due to players ageing and not being replaced by players of a similar standard. You can never stand still in football or have to be prepared to suffer the consequences. Having only won one game out of the twelve played so far they look doomed for relegation, which is a new experience for the former title holders.
Manchester Corinthians leading the Division 2 table by four points in October increased that to ten points with four wins out of four and are certainties to be in the top table in next years Spring league. Starting in Division 3 in this years Spring league they have won the two divisions in successive seasons.
In second spot, ten points adrift, are Preston North End Senior Whites, followed by Chorley FC four points behind Preston. Preston picked up seven points while Chorley could only manage two points on the day.
Rochdale Striders are on eleven points two behind Chorley and bottom placed AFC Blackpool Senior Seasiders are on seven points and look likely to be relegated to Division 3 for the Spring league in 2020. The Seasiders are a good side and it’s mystifying how they find themselves in this position. The problem is obviously a lack of goals, with only five scored in twelve games, as they have one of the best goalkeepers in the league in Steve Hyde.
Division 3 was played on 28th November and the rain never ceased all throughout the fixtures.
Fleetwood Town Flyers and Moston Brook FC, tied at the top on fifteen points in October, are still tied with both now on twenty one points. The goal difference has been reduced from four to three. It will be interesting on 9th January to see who gains promotion.
Maccabi Old Codgers, in fourth spot in October, one point behind Rochdale Wanderers, have jumped into third spot now with a six point lead over the Wanderers, after two wins and two draws.
Wakefield Wanderers remain at the foot of the table despite picking up five points. Can they climb above their Rochdale namesakes in January?
GMWF 70s League
In Division 1, Rochdale AFC Strollers have increased their two point lead over Preston North End Senior Whites to four points, and with a far better goal difference, now look likely champions in January.
Tameside Striders had a decent day adding another five points to September and October’s six. Bury Relics could only add two points to their tally of four and look certain relegation candidates.
Division 2 sees Man City still in second spot to AFC Blackpool Senior Seasiders but having reduced the points deficit from two to one, both teams on the same goal difference. Who will gain promotion in the Spring 2020 season is anybodies guess.
Salcom and Moston Brook FC remain in third and fourth positions respectively although the one point difference is now three points.
Everything to look forward to in December and January when all these promotion and relegation issues in all three leagues will be finally settled.
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The quality of play has improved immeasurably and teams in all age groups and divisions are really knocking the ball about well, using the space. I’ve played in the 60s, 65s and over 70s this month and noticed far more passes are going to feet and ball control is improving rapidly.
The transition from 5-a-side to walking football is hard, as in the former you pass a couple of yards ahead, whereas now if you do that it makes the receiver run to get it and get penalised. The refereeing standard is really high and I like the fact that they the referees, will talk to you about their decisions or warn you, without blowing up all the time making it stop start.
The popularity of the league is off course testament to the way it’s being run.
Well done to everyone who played, refereed, managed, spectated and organized Thursday’s event.
Difficult conditions but excellent football on show. I never knew that these new fangled goalkeeping gloves
could store so much water. It was like having an extra kilogram of weight hanging off your wrists!
Finally dried out.