Manchester Walking Football October 2026

Reporter: Kevin Williams

Week 1 – Over 60s Division 1

Over 60s Report

I mentioned the much improved Manchester Old Boys last month, and they continued their upward trajectory with another unbeaten day at a sunny Heywood Sports Village today. It looks increasingly likely that the final two rounds of games will decide if either they, or Wakefield Wanderers, will finish as Runners Up to the ever impressive Bolton Arena.

Wakefield Wanderers themselves continued their impressive record and will not cede second place easily. A couple of close defeats for Fleetwood Town Flyers seem to have resigned them to a mid table berth. They lead a clutch of clubs, Salcom, Burnley Clarets and Winstanley Walkers, into the final quarter of the season.

There weren’t too many goals in the tightly contested games I enjoyed refereeing today, but I did have the opportunity to see two outstanding efforts from Burnley’s Steve Whitehead in the day’s finale against an unlucky Blackpool Senior Seasiders. He’s scored a few like that in recent years, but I doubt he’s scored many better! The Seasiders could have done with taking something from that game, but went down narrowly, it probably signalled their demotion at the end of the season, along with Ribble Valley WFC and Bolton Arena Blues.

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

Over 70s Report

Bury Relics edged a tad further away from Moston Brook FC on a bright autumn day at Heywood on Wednesday morning, remaining unbeaten. Repeating their 2 wins, 2 draws and no losses mantra in a copycat version of the initial outings, Bury Relics are now on 8 clean sheets for the season.

Moston Brook FC are undoubtedly capable of giving Bury something to think about, but in a small division like this, those head to head fixtures are key, and a slender 1-0 defeat for the Manchester side will need turning on it’s head in November.

Blackpool Senior Seasiders are also unbeaten, but need a run of victories to really get involved at the business end, whilst Ribble Valley WFC and Tameside Striders Blues need to kick start their seasons now to stay up.

Over 60s Report

Moston Brook FC suffered their first defeat of the season when falling to a single Manchester Corinthians goal earlier today at a very pleasant Heywood Sports Village. However they still hold a healthy lead of eight points from the Corinthians in third place. Corinthians themselves fell to an outstanding goal from Rochdale AFC Strollers Piere Deklerk, as the second placed Blues closed the gap to four points.

That fixture was typical of so many today; teams on all pitches were practically inseparable and a draw so often looked the likely outcome, until a touch of magic split the difference. Both Rochdale teams remained unbeaten today, with all 8 games showing no goals conceded.

Both of the Bury Relics sides look to be achieving the same results, their playing record for the season is almost identical on Played 27, Won 7, Drawn 17 and Lost 3 each. Even the Goal Difference is just the one out!

Panthers WFC and Wakefield Wanderers Whites had a steady day again, the Yorkshire lads having lost only four of 27 played, and it remains between the trailing trio of Preston North End Senior Whites, North Manchester WFC and Rochdale AFC Striders to avoid that wooden spoon. A very interesting final 9 fixtures for each club.

Week 3 – Over 75s Division 1, Over 70s Division 2 & Over 65s Division 1

Over 75s Report

It really is remarkable how tightly packed the five teams are in this division. No more than 4 points separates top from bottom, and it really is anyone’s guess who will claim the title, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it went to goal difference.

On that basis, Tameside Striders sit just above Blackpool Senior Seasiders courtesy of a three goal advantage, but as all of these sides are due to play each other on two occasions before the season is done, that gap could just as easily be closed as extended.

The 30 points gained so far by those two is just a single point better than both Rochdale AFC Strollers and Ribble Valley Invincibles, a more substantial differential in goals scored and conceded here, with the Dale holding a 5 goal swing. Bury Relics will quite rightly consider themselves in with some sort of a chance, and why not, on 26 points with 24 to play for?

Over 70s Report

Winstanley Walkers had a day to remember on Wednesday winning all 4 of their matches, conceding none, to race away at the top of Division 2 of the over 70’s age category. The high noon confrontation with second placed Preston North End Senior Whites was key in securing the Wigan club a healthy lead, although the sides were just separated by a single goal.

A late penalty miss by Rochdale AFC Strollers denied them a point against Salcom, and the chance to leapfrog their opponents at the foot of the table, as is often said, fine margins. Bolton Arena look like the main challengers to Preston North End Senior Whites in the battle for Runners Up spot, as with 8 games remaining it would take a remarkable run to close down the leaders.

Over 65s Report

Unless my maths is completely failing me, and it has before believe me, then Wakefield Wanderers are the Champions of the over 65’s 1st Division before we hit November! That is some achievement, and I’m sure I’m not the only one involved with the GMWFL to acknowledge what a tremendous feat that is.
Congratulations to everyone involved at the Yorkshire club.

There appears to be a three way fight behind them, for second spot, and Manchester Corinthians showed they have the appetite to challenge taking home 10 points today, to move into second spot. Lancashire rivals Bolton Arena and Burnley Clarets both retain a real interest in proceedings and will look to finish strongly, whilst Bury Relics notched five goals across two victories, but couldn’t quite complete a 100% winning streak today.

The Clarets were left rueing their generosity in loaning out their very own John Finn to neighbours Ribble Valley WFC. John reminded Jim Bowden and co of what he is capable of, making a number of brilliant saves in their draw with each other. Paul ‘ Sunny’ Sunter featured again on the score sheet, before a fine draw with champions Wakefield Wanderers preceded a very narrow defeat to Manchester Corinthians. As Jim rightly said to me, this is an ultra competitive division.

Bury Relics are sandwiched between Winstanley Walkers and Ribble Valley WFC in mid table, but all three will be looking over their collective shoulders where Blackpool Senior Citizens, Curzon Ashton FC and Preston North End Senior Whites currently occupy the relegation places.

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