Over the past few months Walking Football has massively taken off in Thanet.
Thanks to funding from the Kent FA an initiative was set up at Baypoint running Just Play Walking Football Sessions. Baypoint provided excellent facilities for the football and social side of the initiative, with TSC Coach John McKellar providing the coaching.
The session has steadily grown and has a regular 17-20 players attending. With the training going well the team who have named themselves the “Bay City Strollers” have been involved in local friendlies and recently participated in a tournament at Brighton FC’s Amex Training Ground playing against teams such as Brighton, Crystal Palace and AFC Wimbledon. A video of the event can be seen here
Also in conjunction with Ramsgate Leisure Centre and Thanet District Councils Sport 4 Life project an afternoon session has also been running and numbers have increased.
There will now be two Walking Football Sessions running at Baypoint from this week.
The sessions are both on Mondays and are both at the excellent Baypoint facilities (Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, CT13 9QL):
Session 1: Mondays – 12 midday to 1pm (Cost £2, £4 after March)
Session 2: Mondays – 7pm – 8pm (Cost £2, £4 after March)
You will receive professional coaching from TSC coach John McKellar and then you have the opportunity to visit the excellent Bar and Bistro facilities at Baypoint to enjoy the social side of the sessions.
John Mckeller, part of the team enjoying Walking Football in Thanet, beamed about its success. “Walking Football here in Thanet has been a resounding success. The Baypoint initiative has also now started to grow into a great social event as well with most players coming back in the Bar/Bistro area after our session to have a quick drink and chat. here are now plans to turn this into a social evening with the Baypoint Bistro laying on food for us – it’s definitely exciting times for Walking Football. I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Peter Cadogan, Baypoint Sports Centre, Thanet District Council, TSC Football Academy, the Kent FA and the walking footballers themselves for helping contribute to such a brilliant initiative.
Kent FA Football Development Officer, Liz Symons added her praise. “It’s been a delight to see Walking Football take off in Kent. Thanet has been an outstanding example of how football can enrich, empower and improve the local community. As the season has gone on, more and more people have learnt about Walking Football; it’s the perfect form of the game to keep people playing, whether they prefer a slower version of the game or carry an injury that would otherwise mean they wouldn’t be playing at all.”
“The opportunities playing sport provides is clearly demonstrated by Baypoint who’ve already played at one of the most elite training complexes in the country! Besides keeping people fit and playing football, Walking Football engages people to be part of a team, make new friends and keep their social circles evolving. I hope we see the growth Walking Football has enjoyed in Thanet, continue across Kent.”
We hope you will join us at these fun sessions, please feel free to just turn up to a session, you do not need to register in advance. For more information you can contact:
John McKellar (TSC) : 07931 165070 or john@tscoaching.co.uk
Sam Perkins (Baypoint): 01304 613022 or sam.perkins@baypointclub.co.uk