Walking in a football

Telereporter joins veteran players for kickabout

F I E RC E s h ot s , f l y i n g tac k les a nd t he ba l l zippi ng across the surface like a pro game.

This was a very different kind of walking football to the version this reporter had imagined when I made my debut at Newport-onTay in the regular Friday morning session.

Players in their 60s and a couple in their 70s put me to shame with their pace and power... and that was with me starting off in goal.

The veterans’ walking football has been introduced to help older people keep fit and meet likeminded players.

Organiser Paul Berg “signed” me up for a trial at Newport’s Waterstone Crook Sports Centre and I pulled on my gloves and boots for the first time in years.

He also made my year when he discovered I was 56 by remarking: “Oh, you’re a bit young for us.” Music to my ears.

I thought I could stroll about the midfield as a Graeme Souness-type of player – without the ferocious tackling, or spraying passes left and right to teammates – then possibly a spell between the sticks in my true goalkeeper position.

Think again.

Instead of the Newport sports centre, think Barcelona’s Nou Camp for an idea of how these guys went about the game.

The rules are simple: there is a limit of three touches of the ball, no pass-backs to the keeper and the ball is restricted to under 5ft in the air.

I was light-headed after just five minutes – and, yes, that was in goal.

As part of the blue bibs team against the reds, I made a couple of stops and was only beaten by a penalty in the first game which lasted more than 20 minutes.

However, the reds ran amok in the second clash and I will draw a veil over the scoreline.

For the sake of action photos, I was coaxed out of goal for the second encounter and thought I was going to collapse.

It is taken seriously and players have strong views about how they will be penalised for playing at that pace when they start playing league fixtures.

The natural response to chase a ball never leaves you, that’s all I can say.

Paul, who doubles as referee, said: “I only started Tayport FC Walking Football Club last August and now we have 22 members and new strips from sponsors Tunnock’s and Hogg Buildings and Maintenance, plus Scotmid awarded us a community grant.

“It’s a good atmosphere and in the main there’s not too much arguing or debating rules.

“We are always looking for new members and if we get more signed up there is also the chance to have an evening slot at Waterstone Crook.”

He added: “Now we are in the Walking Football Scotland North East League, we will play games on the last Sunday of each month at Gussie Park.

“Former Arbroath manager and Tayport Juniors president Dave

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