WHILE it might be easier on the joints, walking football requires ability, skill and finesse, and having recently represented Australia in the Walking Football World Cup in England, these three Wynnum players have it all.
Jim Sloan, Jeff Clarkson, and Neil Brunner, all seasoned football enthusiasts and avid players in their youth, proudly represented their nation, showcasing their love for the sport and competitive spirit while embracing the unique form of the game that caters to players of all ages.
“I’m a footballer from way back, but I’m too old now to be running around and getting tackled, so this looked like a good alternative, and it was,” Jim shared.
“It’s great fun, it’s really good for my health, and there’s a lot of camaraderie, so I love it.”
“It uses all the skills of normal football, except the pace is taken out of it,” added Jeff.
“For older people, the rules seem to suit the situation.”
Walking football features specific rules to accommodate older players: no running, no tackling from behind or the side, the ball cannot go over head height, and games are played six-a-side on smaller fields with smaller goals.
Ahead of the World Cup, which was held in Chesterfield, England from May 17 to 19, trials were held across the country to select a squad of 70 players across seven Australian teams, including three women’s teams, across different age groups.
Fifteen nations were represented at the tournament, featuring 54 men’s and women’s teams, including Lithuania, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Peru, Wales and England.
“It was great to mix with them and see where you sit in terms of standard. We challenged ourselves,” Jim said.
Although Australia didn’t play for or win any medals, the Wynnum trio said it was an profound experience to play football in the UK, finding it highly competitive and rewarding.
“When I was a young bloke, playing in England was like the holy grail of football,” Jeff said.
“It was a real thrill to be playing on English soil and representing Australia, it was something we’ll never forget.”
“We weren’t in the medals, but were competitive in each game,” Neil said. “We learnt a lot from it and got better as the tournament went on.”
While the sport is relatively new in Australia compared to our European counterparts, it has seen rapid growth since its inception in 2018, with regular fixtures held across Brisbane including Lota, Cleveland, Bowen Hills, Albion, Coorparoo, Oxley, The Gap and more.
Neil encouraged others to find more information about the game at www.walkingfootballbrisbane.com.au.
“Come along and try it,” he said.
