Rotherham United Community Sports Trust’s Walking Football group recently enjoyed a trip to Portugal.
Whilst the UK spent the last seven days shivering after experiencing the ‘Beast from the East’, our Walking Football side were soaking up the Portuguese sunshine representing the Millers in a mini-tournament.
The team is made up from members of the Trust’s Mature Millers group, who hold various sessions at the AESSEAL New York Stadium on a weekly basis.
The Mature Millers are fully constituted and apply for funding in their own right to expand their work and increase membership.
The group have been to different football clubs to take on other community walking football teams over the years, with the aim of giving participants, usually 60 and above, the chance to enjoy gentle exercise and to keep active. The group play regular fixtures on a regional basis.
One of the Mature Millers regular attendees is Tommy Charlton, younger brother of Sir Bobby and Jack, who you may have recently seen on the BBC Football website as he looks to break into the England national team. Click here for the full story..
Chris Baker, a member of the Mature Millers who organised the trip to Portugal, said:
“As organiser, I contacted East Algarve Walking Football to arrange a mini-tournament.
“We played a round robin over two days against the local Olhao WFC and Browns WFC who came over from Vilamoura.
“Our two teams of seven-a-side made up the rest, and we held our own against younger guys, with teams over 50s, where as we are mainly over 65s.
“Everyone had a great time which was topped with a celebration dinner for all after the final day’s play.
“The added bonus was that we missed the worst of the snow and ice that covered the UK whilst we were away experiencing temperatures touching 20 degrees!
“We have been invited back to compete in an over 50s tournament in November, encompassing a few more local sides and at least five more from the UK, which is great news.”