Walking football for over-50s has returned to Macclesfield and the promise of a festival this week saw one group readying themselves for a return to competitive action.

A side created through the support of Macclesfield Community Sports Trust could be donning the Silkmen kit at the Cheshire FA Walking Football Festival on 17 February.

Head of the trust Lee Folkard said Jonathan Jackson, a newcomer to their Thursday sessions at the Macclesfield Leisure Centre, had not played for at least 20 years but picked up the rules and action pretty quickly.

Folkard said: "There's a mild bit of jogging and running when you're off the ball. You can't fly into tackles and there's an over head-height rule.

Close control needed in the face of this gengenpress.

"Using Jonathan as an example, he watched for the first five minutes and scored a goal at the end."

At the end of training Bollington-resident John Place highlighted what he was achieving whilst revealing an ulterior motive.

The 66-year-old said: "I've been to so many gyms and joined up and then just lapsed, cause it's boring, repetitive.

"This is fun. You're getting exercise, you're twisting and turning.

Accurate passing to other walking players is vital - demonstrated here by John Place.

"My dream is, I've got two sons, so I'd like to invite them, play against them and nutmeg 'em."

At the end of the session, players made themselves available for selection as Folkard and the group shared cardio advice amid preparations for the side's debut at Moss Farm in Northwich.

He said: "It's keeping them fit in a way and obviously when we go into the competition on Thursday.

"It's the first time that they're playing under our banner as the community trust and Macclesfield Football Club."

Andrew Bunce calling the shots with the ball at his feet.

"It's quite a proud moment to see that progress, from where we started in November."

New applications for funding to local sports trusts, Sport England, The Football Foundation and The FA plus working through lockdowns encouraged the trust to think in new ways about linking with the community.

At the end of 2021 Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire John Dwyer's Community Action Fund awarded £5,000 to the trust for their Streetbluez youth engagement programme.

Their tagline is 'not just football' when delivering their youth and after school sessions and at care home visits they've played bingo and virtual Catchphrase - as they adapt to local needs.

Stand-up tackling is permitted within reason.

Other walking football sessions have re-emerged from a network of over-50s from all backgrounds and genders first established in the community five years ago.

Tytherington Juniors Football Club chairman Jeff Eastham was part of this scene as a player, and the club has introduced hour-long sessions on the 3G pitch at All Hallows.

Eastham said: "There's a group that play at Macc rugby on the astroturf on a Tuesday, we're trying to get going on a Monday.

"There's probably now about 30-40 people involved.

"It's not the easiest age group to get out and about. I don't know if Covid has had a perverse positive impact.

"You've got more people, perhaps, looking for things to do, get out of the house a bit more and keep active."

He guessed that 60% of the turnout at his club's sessions might have walking football as their single activity but others play golf, tennis or bowls.

Jeff wore a GPS to one recent session and clocked up three-and-a-half miles, saying others who'd been down for the last three weeks saw how their own fitness had improved.

He recalled a 2018 tournament with teams from Knutsford, Holmes Chapel, Macclesfield and Poynton with help via Everybody Sport & Recreation.

Read more about walking football and other community activities carried out by Macclesfield Community Sports Trust here.

Tytherington Juniors Football Club highlight walking football sessions via its Facebook page.

The Cheshire FA Walking Football Festival Takes place from 12.30pm on Friday 17 February at the Moss Farm Leisure Complex in Northwich.

Macclesfield Leisure Centre is located on Priory Lane.

Training at Macclesfield Leisure Centre for squad members and coaches of the Macclesfield Community Sports Trust (l-r): Malcolm Palk, Lee Folkard, James Coley, David Powell, John Place, Andrew Bunce, Joe Craig, Phil Jones, Jonathan Jackson, Aum Patel.

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