Manchester Walking Football September 2026

Reporter: Kevin Williams

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

Over 70s Report

With the Over 70’s age category still operating on 2 seasons per calendar year, it was a new start for everyone at Heywood on Wednesday.

Goals were at an absolute premium though, with the exception of Bury Relics demolition of the unlucky Tameside Striders Blues, with four being scored without reply. Bury’s defence continued to be somewhat miserly throughout the rest of the day, with clean sheets all round, to back up two wins and two draws.

Moston Brook FC were the only other side to score on the day, and it is those two old rivals who top the league, albeit the Relics hold a healthy 3 point lead at this early stage.

With only 3 games having an outcome other than a scoreless draw, Blackpool Senior Seasiders and Ribble Valley WFC join Tameside Striders Blues in remaining in the hunt for the league title, although the early money may well be on Bury Relics.

Over 60s Report

League leaders Bolton Arena employed a high press game at Heywood today, and it paid dividends as they remained unbeaten on the day, with only the one setback all season.

Manchester Old Boys did likewise, and with just 2 defeats so far, look increasingly difficult to beat. Too many draws have probably done for their title chances but claiming Runners Up is not impossible.

It’s a similar story for Wakefield Wanderers, with 10 draws, but Fleetwood Town Flyers buck the trend as they have suffered 8 defeats, but are also in the frame for minor honours due to their 9 victories thus far.

Burnley Clarets could, and probably should have earned a draw in their tussle with the Cod Army, but just couldn’t take their chances, a mid table berth probably awaits them. They, along with Salcom, Blackpool Senior Seasiders and Ribble Valley WFC, will spend the next 3 months battling to avoid the drop along with likely contenders Bolton Arena Blues, who will have enjoyed beating Fleetwood Town Flyers in the 11:20 fixture.

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

Over 70s Report

The teams kicking off the Autumn 2026 season in Division 2 of the Over 70’s Age Group, did so on a lovely September day in Heywood. I’d suggest you copy and save some of those words for later this year, just to cheer yourself up!

Every game but one featured at least one goal, and at the end of a good morning’s football unbeaten Preston North End Senior Whites sat top of the table, leading Winstanley Walkers by just the one point.

It’s very early days of course, and Bolton Arena are set firm in the middle of the league, with two wins and two losses from four outings, so won’t be giving up just yet. Bottom pair Salcom and Rochdale AFC Strollers have some work to do though, if they’re not to lose touch.

Over 60s Report

Both Manchester Corinthians and Rochdale AFC Strollers surrendered valuable ground at the restart of the 2nd Division of the Over 60’s today at Heywood, proceeding were completed before the rain arrived! They both contrived to drop a serious number of points [Corinthians 9 from 12 possible, Rochdale 8 from 15 available] and now have to look over their shoulders as both Bury Relics teams and Wakefield Wanderers Whites sniff blood and close in on the runners up and promotions spots.

The beneficiaries, Moston Brook FC didn’t really need any favours as they amassed a very healthy extension to their lead picking up 11 points on the day. North Manchester had probably their best day since joining the league with 2 wins and 2 draws from 5 games today, which should bring a smile to Dave Barrett’s face, although there’s usually one there anyway!

That allowed them to leapfrog Rochdale AFC Striders, who didn’t seem to recover from an unfortunate last minute loss to colleagues Rochdale AFC Strollers early doors to slip to the bottom, despite a stirring goalless draw against Manhcester Corinthians late on in the day.

Panthers WFC and Preston Noth End Senior Whites are currently picking up points here and there, and doing enough to stay happy.

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

Over 75s Report

Walking Football Evergreens took to the pitch again on Monday, reminding us that age is no barrier to enjoying your football well into your eighth decade.

The division continues to be a tight one, with 5 points amazingly separating all 5 teams; not one team has lost more than 6 games from 20, and not one team has won more than 6, the honours in both cases going to Blackpool Senior Seasiders.

The Fylde coast lads sit just behind Tameside Striders who lead going into the final three months of the campaign; with Ribble Valley Invincibles, Rochdale AFC Strollers and Bury Relics breathing, and far from gasping, down their necks.

Just how close this competition is, is reflected in the goal difference figures. One team shows +4, one -4, with three on level, brave man who backs the winner in this one!

Over 70s Report

Harrogate Strays continued where they left off in June, when they raced to the top of Division 3 without sparing the horses. Four clean sheets helped them on their way, and even at this early juncture, registering a win over last seasons promotion rivals Curzon Ashton FC will have done them nothing but good.

That was the Nash’s only loss of the day and they picked up 7 points to sit in second place on alphabetical order, with Panthers WFC.

It’s far too early for Burnley Clarets and Airbus Buccaneers to start panicking, but they will want to pick up points sooner rather than later next month.

Over 65s Report

We initially focus on the bottom of the table this time, and what contrasting fortunes for the two Fylde coast clubs in this division. Preston North End Senior Whites failed to register a point, enduring five defeats including going down 2-1 to local rivals Blackpool Senior Seasiders, who leapfrogged them courtesy of 2 wins and three draws, their first victories of the season. The Seasiders are now in touch with mid table teams Bury Relics and Ribble Valley FC. It just shows what one good session can bring.

One of those draws came against Curzon Ashton FC, in the day’s finale. I have to say now that this was proper Walking Football, played in the right spirit and with honest endeavour; a pleasure to referee and to watch, I’m sure. Somebody mentioned the absence through injury of the esteemed Mr Stuart Saint may have had some bearing on this state of affairs. I couldn’t possibly comment.

If there were any better goals today, than those that graced the Burnley Clarets and Bury Relics game, then I would have loved to see them. Bury’s Alan Blakely hit a beautifully guided shot from about 15 yards out, that hit the back of the net with a thud, paving the way for the Clarets Paul ‘Sunny’ Sunter to hit an absolute rocket from a similar distance. Both goals deserved to win a game, but a draw was absolutely the right result.

Looking up the table, there are now four teams all vying for the Runners Up berth, Winstanley Walkers chasing three clubs all on the 30 point mark, Manchester Corinthians, Burnley Clarets and Bolton Arena. The Corinthians were short on goals today, not for the want of trying, but the one they did bag earned them a very useful point against runaway leaders Wakefield Wanderers. The West Yorkshire club hold a massive 31 point lead at the top, remain unbeaten, and have a goal difference of plus 34. If they’re lucky they may just win the title.

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

Over 70s Report

Moston Brook FC Greens ended the day looking up at the rest of the Division 4 table after a disappointing day for the Manchester club on a bright September day at Heywood. They sit somewhat adrift after a fruitless morning, all of their rivals won at least one match, and two of them remain unbeaten after day 1 of the Autumn season.

Of those two clubs, Wakefield Wanderers are top, just leading Tameside Striders Greens and Rochdale AFC Striders by 1, and 2 points respectively.

Only 6 goals were scored on the day, and Moston Brook FC Greens will know that catching their first target, Fleetwood Town Flyers, who sit on five points, will require them to find a goal or two from somewhere. I’m sure they’ll give it a good go.

Over 65s Report

Wakefield Strollers suffered a very rare bad day at the office on another glorious September morning. Although they picked up points in two of their four games, both Bolton Arena Blues and Panthers WFC inflicted defeats on the West Yorkshire club, on a day where traffic chaos to the west of Manchester prevented the luckless Wigan Walkers from reaching the venue at all, whilst Bolton Arena Blues were seriously impacted in the squad they eventually had available.

[A serious incident on the motorway meant that although three of the Wigan Walkers team reached Heywood, the rest of their squad never made it. Normally, if a team fails to attend, their opponents are awarded 1-0 wins, but owing to the extenuating circumstances, it was decided that their results on the day would be 0-0 draws. Bolton Arena Blues also had problems, with just five of their squad available for the first three fixtures. Thanks to the two Rochdale teams and Wakefield Strollers for agreeing to field only five of their own players, great sportsmanship, thank you lads. Ed]

Rochdale AFC Strollers enjoyed another fruitful day, and have still only tasted defeat on one occasion this season. These four clubs would seem to have the title in their sights with three rounds of games remaining. A late, great run by either Salcom or Moston Brook FC might tip them into a promotion place.

With no relegation on the cards for this Division, the bottom four are, of course, playing for pride. Rochdale AFC Striders enjoyed a rare victory in their finale with Reg Clarke and Dave Thornton on target when putting Moston Brook FC to the sword.

It still looks likely, however, that Clarets Casuals or Rochdale AFC Striders will take the wooden spoon as Tameside Striders Whites and Wigan Walkers still hold an advantage that is in double figures although Mick Tarpey will be reminding his players that you never say never.

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