Walking football club wins £20k funding boost to expand activities

Inverkip Walking Football Club (IWFC) received the cash boost, which runs over the next two years, from National Lottery Community Fund.

This will enable the club to encourage more people to take up the beautiful game.

Inverkip Walking Football Club celebrate £20,000 cash boost (Image: George Munro)

Chairman Mike Orobczuk said: “We are absolutely delighted.

“Peter Hill, our treasurer and I put the application in and I am sure we are one of the first organisations to receive funding from the National Lottery in Inverkip but we have members from all across Inverclyde.”

“The funds will be used to expand and strengthen our walking football program, so that more people across Inverclyde can benefit from regular physical activity, social connection and improved well being.”

The club currently run five weekly sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Inverkip Hub with male and female teams whose ages varying from mid-50s to early 80s.

Mike and treasurer Peter Hill hold with the cheque (Image: George Munro)

Some members of the club used to play football at school and now they are playing agani in over 50s, over 60s, and over 70s teams.

The oldest club member is Norman Graham, 83, from Greenock, who has been playing for nine years.

Norman said: “It’s been a great thing for me. I enjoy the company. I’d never played football before – I’m still trying to.

“They’re a bunch of great guys, we’ve had some social events as well. My wife Ver thinks it’s great – until I come home with a scraped knee.”

Edward Devine, 82, from Gourock, has been coming along for a year and has an impressive football career.

He quipped: “We both got a perm for this photo.

“It’s been great fun, a great crowd of people, they are cheery, happy and very considerate of each other.

“I used to play for Gourock YAC’s Old Crocs, St Andrew’s University team, and for the Pontifical Scots College in Rome, we won the Football University Shield, just before Celtic won the European Cup in 1967.”

Top Team: Edward and Norman (Image: George Munro)

The group will also work Morton in the Community to develop a training and fitness program with a qualified coach at the Inverkip Hub for players in safe, structured and inclusive environment.

Mike said: “We are also focused on promoting and growing our health awareness sessions with the players and wider local community, so people are well informed with identifying any potential health issues as early as possible.”

Inverkip Walking Football Club (Image: George Munro)

Inverkip Walking Football Club (Image: George Munro)

Inverkip Walking Football Club started in May 2017 with the aim of promoting walking football, physical and mental well-being for men and woman over 50 years old in Inverclyde.

The club boasts players from Inverkip, Wemyss Bay, Port Glasgow, Gourock, Greenock, Skelmorlie, Beith, Largs, and Glasgow, who participate in five weekly games at the Inverkip Hub 3G football pitch.

The teams participate in a West of Scotland League every quarter as well as playing friendlies with other walking football teams.

Inverkip Walking Football Club (Image: George Munro)

In the last few years the club has also widened its remit by working with local health groups to promote awareness of cancer research, mental health, diabetes, prostate, pancreatic and skin cancer.

As a direct result of these awareness sessions, several players were able to identify the early stages of prostate cancer and seek early treatment.

The club has up to 60 players who participate on a weekly basis and benefit from the physical fitness, mental health and social relationships.

Mike said: “Our mission is to continue to promote the benefits of regular exercise, social interaction and health awareness with partnering with local health charities.

“The club aims to celebrate its 10th birthday by working with Morton in the Community to arrange a Walking Football Festival and other health awareness activities for the local community.

Inverclyde Walking Football Club (Image: George Munro)

Inverkip Walking Football Club (Image: George Munro)

National Lottery players raise over £32 million a week for good causes across the UK.

Thanks to them, The National Lottery Community Fund distributes over £600m a year through over 13,000 grants.

Anyone interested in joining the club should call Inverkip Hub on 01475 520 740.