Manchester Walking Football Season 2025 June Sessions

Reporter: Kevin Williams

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

Over 70s Report

It looks like a four-way shout for the 1st Division title in this age group, with Manchester Corinthians edging favouritism, by virtue of a two-point lead at the half way stage.
Their eight point haul from Wednesday’s matches meant that they would stay in pole position until September, when we reconvene.

Sitting just behind them are Bury Relics, unbeaten yesterday, and Winstanley Walkers who picked up five points to keep in the hunt.

Tameside Striders Blues struggled a little to find goals, but one was enough to beat Rochdale AFC Strollers who are now red hot favourites to go down, trailing by eleven points with a vastly inferior goal difference; they may be hoping that life is a little kinder in the division below.

Over 60s Report

The three prong assault on the Division 1 title looks even more firmly in place at the half way stage of the season, with Winstanley Walkers remarkably maintaining their unbeaten record going 18 games undefeated; the standout result was a 4-0 walloping of Wakefield Wanderers who are nobodies idea of a soft touch.

A special mention must be made for Winstanley’s Alan Raines who scored a superb goal on a day of a good few tremendous strikes that I had the pleasure of witnessing. This is undoubtedly a top class league.

Blackpool Senior Seasiders suffered just the one setback today, courtesy of Manchester Old Boys, but remain at the top of the pile, just edging out Winstanley Walkers and Bolton Wanderers. The champions should come from one of this trio, barring something of a miracle appearing from mid table.

Burnley Clarets suffered two late blows in their finale against Lancashire rivals Blackpool Senior Seasiders, conceding five minutes from time, to a another fine finish in all honesty, but much more importantly losing keeper Karl Greenwood with a double break of his ankle in the process of attempting the save.

Earlier, Steve Whitehead continued his goal scoring streak claiming another three, that’s eight for the season. However, all thoughts at Burnley, and around the Walking Football family, will be with Karl for a speedy recovery!

Fleetwood Town Flyers put the shutters up this morning, whilst putting three on Panthers to maintain their mid table status, similarly Manchester Corinthians were pleased with their haul of nine points too. That left Panthers still seeking their first win of the season, in a tough division, and they’ll be looking to make inroads on the pack just above them, Manchester Old Boys, Wakefield Wanderers and Bury Relics Whites, before the gap becomes impossible to bridge.

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

Over 70s Report

Our very own referee Denis Cudahy was a busy man on Wednesday [and for that matter Thursday!] when he blew his whistle for no less than TEN offences during the Burnley Clarets v Blackpool Senior Seasiders in a High Noon showdown.

That the majority, if not all, were recorded against the Seasiders will have had the Tangerines goalkeeper Steve Hyde scratching his head in wonderment. However, as has so often been the case, the evergreen Club Secretary kept out both penalty attempts to earn his side a share of the spoils.

Denis will be, I am reliably informed, invoicing Blackpool for a new pen…[geddit?] ‘Pool’ couldn’t quite manage to keep a clean sheet throughout the day, but Moston Brook FC did achieve that, and by coincidence were the only side to beat them.

Burnley Claret’s penalty taking record is not what they’d like, according to John Walton, having previously missed 3 already this campaign. However, Keith Harvey returned from injury to finally score from the spot against Salcom, and keep the gap at the top to a very manageable 3 points. Apparently, Keith was the last Burnley player in this age group to be successful with a penalty.

Preston North End Senior Whites are bottom of the table, yet only eight off the top; this is a very tight league and the battle recommences in 2 months time with everything to play for.

Over 60s Report

Bolton Arena have taken this division by the scruff of the neck, and it looks like theirs to lose. With just 2 defeats in 18 so far, in a very competitive league, their miserly defence [just the one conceded today] and a useful habit of scoring just often enough [one so often suffices] they will be disappointed that the summer break has arrived.

The chasing pack is a large enough one, if you scroll down to 7th place then Preston North End Senior Whites are the bread along with second placed Ribble Valley WFC; sandwiched in between are Salcom, Wakefield Wanderers Whites, Moston Brook FC and Bury Relics Blues, separated by just 7 points.

That man in the news, Denis again, almost wore out another pen during the Preston North End Senior Whites/Rochdale AFC Striders encounter. Once again ten offences were committed and once again a penalty was missed, but not by the Whites, they went on to score again to seal the points. Writer’s cramp tonight Denis?

Clarets Casuals split the two Rochdale sides, at the foot of the table, with the Strollers gaining just the two points today, but from a fixture list that featured four of the top five in the division.

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

Over 70s Report

It was a beautiful day at Heywood once again, as Division 3 sunbathed its way into the summer break. Four of the five participants are snuggled up to each other, with just 5 points separating Panthers WFC, Tameside Striders Greens, Rochdale AFC Striders, and Bolton Arena.

Ribble Valley WFC are stretching their legs at the top, going fully eight points clear, in a division where almost 50% of the matches so far played have ended in draws. The league leaders featured in three of those stalemates yesterday, along with another win and four clean sheets, and will be looking ahead to finishing the job in the latter part of the year.

The rest of the guys can put their feet up for a few weeks, knowing they’ve also contributed to some excellent football matches.

Over 65s Report

Runaway leaders Wakefield Wanderers weren’t at their very best, and didn’t have to be, when they completed their fixtures for the first half of the season at a sundrenched HSV today. However, not one of their opponents managed to breach their defence, and they remain 11 points clear of the chasing pack, headed by Manchester Corinthians Reds.

That team’s Kevin Mooney scored what has got to be one of the very best goals I have ever seen at Heywood. In a tight game against a good Preston North End Senior Whites side, the ex-pro from the other end of the East Lancashire Road, unleashed a rocket into the spot known as ‘the postage stamp’ from well outside the box. Fantastic stuff, and the applause was still ringing out when PNE restarted the game.

Those friendliest of rivals Bury Relics, and Rochdale AFC Strollers share third spot, with Bolton Arena, Preston North End Senior Whites, and Winstanley Walkers all in close attendance.

Goals were once again in short supply, with eleven scoreless draws, and a further eight games where only one team scored at all. All credit to the keepers and defences. Manchester Corinthians Whites were the only team to hit the net twice in one game, bringing a welcome win against Panthers WFC, who now occupy bottom spot. Blackpool Senior Seasiders occupy the third relegation spot, it’ll be a fight to the finish come December.

I wonder what the weather will be like?

Week 4 – Over 75s Division 1 & Over 65s Division 2

Over 75s Report

Once again our senior citizens put on a treat for the onlooking spectators on a pleasant day at Heywood. There was an average of just over a goal a game, and I had the pleasure of witnessing a beauty, scored by Rochdale’s evergreen Jeff Whyment. On reflection, as an avid City fan, Jeff might prefer to be called an everblue!

Whilst there’s still a way to go, when we restart in September of course, Bury Relics can look forward to the rest of the campaign with a high degree of optimism, sitting on a 6 point lead. Of course, with 36 points still to play for, the Shakers won’t be counting any chickens just yet.

Only six points adrift, Tameside Striders won’t have given up hope, and the same will surely be said for The Invincibles and Rochdale AFC Strollers, a further 2 and 3 behind respectively.
All to play for gentlemen!

Over 65s Report

The old saying ‘a game of two halves’ was blown out of the window today, as the stiff breeze was favoured by every captain who won the toss. That meant that everyone kicking towards the car park had the wind literally in their faces throughout, but funnily enough that seemed to work in their favour, with the opposition struggling to retain possession, the ball drifting away continuously.

Having said that, everyone picked up points today, with leaders Burnley Clarets notching 3 wins and 4 clean sheets; that makes it ONE goal conceded in their last 13 games – some feat! Paul ‘Sunny’ Sunter kept the goal machine ticking over with another three, to add to Pete Hey’s single.

I was witness to an encounter after the games, that sums up the tremendous spirit in which so much of our football is played. Two of the Burnley lads were having a friendly laugh with Rochdale AFC Striders keeper John Hudson, one of the nicest guys and best keepers around, about finally getting the ball past him today. Everyone had a good laugh, even John who is, whisper it, a Blackburn Rovers fan! Great stuff!

Ribble Valley WFC were equally uncharitable at the back, and picked up 6 points. Curzon Ashton FC, Manchester Citizens and Wakefield Strollers are hard on their heels, all within touching distance of the top duo.

There is a definite split now, in the table, as Salcom and Moston Brook FC sit on twenty points. Mick Tarpey did what he’s always been well known for doing, when he bagged a cracker in the 2-0 victory over Manchester Citizens for Rochdale AFC Striders. Wigan Walkers FC and Tameside Striders Whites occupy the bottom two positions, but having refereed them both today, I suspect that a few victories might be heading their way this Autumn.

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