Walking football team hopes soon to be up and running

Enthusiasts from new Hawick walking football group, with founder Rob Hale, third left (picture by Alistair Learmonth)

A new walking football squad may be kicking off in Hawick, after it staged a warm-up meeting last week.

The line-up attracted a handful of interested would-be players – including a husband and wife partnership – and organisers are hoping word of mouth will attract a few more. The team, founded by Rob Hale, is holding meetings at the Old Baths in Hawick on Tuesday afternoons over the next eight weeks, and hopes to get a core group of around 12-14 players. Posters are also going up to promote the new Hawick team, as well as other walking football squads in Alnwick, Newcastleton, Kelso, Gala, and elsewhere.

If the idea really takes off, then some local players could even figure in a Borders team, as part of a Scotland league.

You don’t need to have past experience as a player – or even a spectator – to take part in walking football. It’s a friendly, very enjoyable form of exercise and all-inclusive social fun. “It’s about exercising and having good fun, although it’s not just an amble,” explained Rob. “There’s a mix of ages, a mix of abilities – and some disabilities – and it’s not a heavily physical sport. It’s accessible to a wide-ranging group of people from around 50 through to their 80s and it is good for social contact.” If you’re interested, contact Rob Hale on 0145 036 3730.