Bay become British champions

Walking football

Herne Bay brought international glory to England after their walking football team were crowned the inaugural Home International British champions.

Having won the English title two weeks earlier, Bay headed to Hartlepool to take on the Scottish and Welsh winners on Sunday.

Their opening game against Wales champions Merthyr Tydfil was tight with Bay doing most of the early pressing but being unable to breach the defence until a breakthrough in the eighth minute when Neil Davey scored.

Steve Nolan went close and Neil Brown hit the post but there was no further scoring as England were victorious.

Wales also lost 1- 0 in their second match against Scotland champions Montrose, whom Bay faced in their second game.

Bay were on top from the outset, breaking down a resolute defence was difficult and it took an 11th-minute free-kick to provide the only goal as Brown found Davey to smash home.

Dave Petts went close with another snap-shot, however it remained 1- 0 to England which enabled them take a firm grip on the group.

There was another 1- 0 win in the third game, the reverse match between Bay and Merthyr with Petts netting early on following some good approach play.

Despite plenty of pressure, the English side could not add to their advantage.

Scotland again saw off Wales by a solitary goal in their second meeting to ensure a clash with Bay in the play-off final.

Bay went ahead in the fourth minute when Brown beat two players and found back of net. Shortly afterwards Nolan went close with another snap shot.

Bay were on top and right on half-time, David Gilham finished off a good move to make the score 2- 0.

The second half followed the pace of the first and Gilham scored his second to make it 3- 0. Nick Denly kept a clean sheet in goal with some sharp saves to help England become the first walking football Home International champions. England/bay: Nick Denly, Steve Nolan, Andy Leach, Neil Brown, David Gilham, Neil Davey, Dave Petts, Clive Parker, Gerry Allan.