Saints Walking Football hosted a Football Festival with Annan Athletic FC and Stranraer FC this week, at St Mary’s Park. The three clubs have established a friendship across the region, and this was the second of three Festivals they will play together this season, each club taking turns to host the event.
All three clubs fielded two teams each, and a mini-league format was played. Games were competitive, but played in a spirit of friendship and fun in the sunshine. Stranraer came out top in the final points tally with 13 points, closely followed by Saints with twelve points. As always in walking football, though, the results were less important than the fun of playing and good banter, which continued over hot pies, sandwiches and drinks with excellent hospitality at the Masonic Arms after the game in the sunshine.
Awards were presented by top flight referee, Andy Halliday. Stranraer swept the board with Player of the Festival going to Chris Fleming and the Fair play award to Mark Carruthers. Old friendships from across the region were re-kindled on the day and new ones made. The ‘Football Festival’ format is as much about people getting together as it is about football – there were no trophies to win, it wasn’t a knockout tournament, just good fun on a gorgeous Galloway day.
Gary Small, Stranraer’s Player-Manager, commented, “The football was well organised throughout the day, and we received top hospitality from the players and club representatives at Saints afterwards. It was great to see all of the players mixing and chatting after the game. All in all, a great day out!”
Gordon Hyslop, Walking Football Scotland’s Regional Representative and Organiser of Annan Walking Football added, “Matches were played in the spirit of friendship. Walking Football is all about participation and playing for the pure fun of it – the more people involved, the better and we had more than 50 players turning out today across the three clubs”.
Any ability, including people who have never played football before are welcome to give Walking Football a try. If you’re interested in giving it a go in Kirkcudbright, call Craig on 07493 777855 or email: [email protected]
