VISIT TO CHESHIRE FA

We visited Cheshire FA on Tuesday last, together with six other interested parties, with a view to organizing the first official FA Walking Football Working Group in England. The first priority is to agree on a set of rules to which organizers of walking football competitions and festivals in Cheshire will agree to abide by. At our next meeting in August we hope to have agreed the basic set of rules and we will try to keep you updated accordingly. It was also suggested that we organize a festival in September to showcase walking football in Cheshire with a view to forming a league structure possibly the following month.

If you cannot comprehend the above photo perhaps you are too young for walking football.

ANOTHER GREAT TURN OUT

Great turn out again at the walking football yesterday guys. Welcome to three new faces Frank, Dave & Jock.

NEW SPACE MARKERS

New space markers have arrived ready for our ballwork / coaching sessions which initially will take place at Shaftsbury Youth Club from 10.00am to 11.00am starting on Wednesday 29th July 2015.

OLD RIVALRIES RENEWED

A familiar rivalry was renewed on Sunday 19th July 2015 when Tranmere Rovers visited Chester for a pre-season friendly. No, not the first teams, this was the walking football version, and we had been invited to take part in their Open Day celebrations. Unfortunately Chester did not have a goalkeeper so immediately went into the emergency loan market to bring in experienced keeper Ron Turner from Tranmere Rovers Walking Football. (Well they made us an offer of 48p which we couldn't refuse). It was a very well fought 6-a-side game in which both sides created lots of chances. However the final outcome was a win for Chester by the odd goal in nine. TRWF can again be proud of their achievements so far in this new format of the Beautiful Game. Many thanks go to Chester FC and particularly Steph for their hospitality and friendliness both before, during & after the game. The Open Day was a credit to Chester FC.
May the rivalry long continue.

CHESTER FC OPEN DAY - Sunday 19th July 2015

Chester Walking Football have invited us to take part in an informal walking football session at Goals in Chester (opposite Chester FC football ground) in Bumpers Lane Chester from 10am - noon as part of their Open Day celebrations.

If enough people attend the intention is to arrange some friendly matches so bring your TRWF kit. Another chance for us to fly the flag.

No need to register for this one just turn up if you fancy it.

Address:

Goals Soccer Centre
4 Talbot Way
Off Bumpers Lane
Chester
CH1 4LT

MINUTES OF TRWF MEETING on 10th July 2015.

George & I had a meeting with Steve & Louise to clarify & gain answers to some of the points raised at the group meeting of 24^th June 2015. Whilst every point on the agenda was not brought up individually, most questions have been answered or deferred due to building work.

SUMMARY

The Wednesday sessions will stay exactly as they are (turn up & play). They will continue at Shaftsbury Youth Club until the refurbishment at the Recreation Centre is completed. If the numbers increase at these sessions, extra sessions will be considered, but the likelihood is that they will be at other venues around the Wirral in order to create different catchment areas. George & I have volunteered to help out if this occurs. Steve’s sessions, Steve’s rules.

On the competitive side, George & I will be setting up a coaching / ballwork session for those interested in the festivals / tournaments. Venue, dates & times TBA. This will only be available to those who come to the turn up & play sessions, although they are not dependant on age or ability. They are not designed to form some sort of walking football superstar team, but to help in the organisation & teamwork for those people who would like to perform better at tournaments. More on organisation, team selection etc will be discussed at these sessions including possibly appointing a team manager & captain.

The £2.00 a week fees go towards the rental of the recreation centre from TRFC. Without going into too much detail, Tranmere In The Community is a registered charity and hires the recreation centre. While we are at the Shafts we are being subsidised by TITC.

Mark & Nicola Palios want to encompass Walking Football in the same way  as other footballing activities at the club as we found out at the recent open day and would like to be updated on the progress. However, they are insistent that we need to be a self-regulating, self-sustaining body. However, it was pointed out that in the future some funds may be available from Sport England if we can show an increase in members. Steve would be grateful if we ran our ideas past him first before putting anything that involves the club directly into practice.

We must also remember that we represent TRFC when we are at these festivals / competitions and must act accordingly in the best interests of ourselves and the football club. George & I will get together & put out an informative code of conduct leaflet so that all current plus future members are aware of these requirements. Some of these measures covered will only apply to the competitive side of course.

There are changing rooms available at most places we play, including the recreation centre, so could players please in future use these facilities. Nobody minds you putting on boots at the side of the pitch or in the rec centre canteen, but for anything else please use the facilities provided. There has been a complaint from passers by about players using the canteen at the rec centre to change. This rule applies to all teams not just us. Unfortunately, there are no showers available.

We will try to get more walking football info posted on the website at TRFC but that will obviously depend on how much WE submit through Steve.

George & I have been asked by Steve & Louise to act as representatives for the walking football group and as such liaise with them. Therefore can all queries, suggestions etc be passed on to us and we will endeavour to gain a response. Steve is directly responsible to Mark & Nicola Palios and as such reports to them approximately every three months.

Other items on the agenda (Kitchen, etc) cannot be addressed until the Recreation Centre is refurbished.

If you have any points to raise on the above, George & myself will do our best to answer them.

Don’t forget the first team friendlies have started and there’s still time to get your season tickets for 2015/16.

FRODSHAM WALKING FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

Tranmere Rovers Walking Football took part in their fourth competition / festival at Frodsham on Sunday. Eventually selecting six-a-side from a squad of eight with rolling subs, we managed a very credible third in our group with two draws and an unlucky loss, just missing out on the semi-finals. The long gap between our second and third games did not help us but it was a very organised team performance and congratulations to all the players. We met some old friends & rivals there and also made new ones as well. The weather stayed fine for the most part. The competition had two referees, both very capable at their jobs (Football League take note). Pitch markings were excellent. All in all a great day.