Players come together for Kent FA 60+ Walking Football Cup
On Sunday, 30th October, Kent FA hosted a 60+ Walking Football Cup, held at the YMCA in Maidstone, where twelve teams from across the county competed.
The twelve teams were split into three groups and played each team in their group to determine who would progress onto the tournament's knockout stages.
After the group stages, the top two teams from each group and the two top third-placed teams made up the quarterfinals. Bexley (9 points), Woodnesborough A (7 points) and Ramsgate (5 points) topped their respective groups emerging as three of the favourites going into the knockout stage of the tournament. Bexley and Woodnesborough A progressed (after narrowly beating Maidstone United and Tonbridge Totterers respectively). However, Woodnesborough B (who came third in their group) managed to upset the standings to beat Ramsgate and progress into the semi-finals. Woodchurch narrowly missed out on the semi-finals after losing to Ashford Internazionale in a very evenly contested fixture.
With just four teams left in the competition, Bexley came up against Ashford Internazionale, and Woodnesborough A faced off against a familiar foe in Woodnesborough B. Bexley won 2-0 against Ashford Internazionale, which meant Bexley progressed into the final. Woodnesborough A won with a narrow 1-0 victory against Woodnesborough B.
This meant a final fixture between two very strong sides, the reigning champions, Woodnesborough A, versus the team with the best record leading to the final, Bexley Walking Football Club. In the final, Woodnesborough A got a superb opening goal early on, with their striker showing his composure to put it in the bottom corner. This goal was the first goal that Bexley had conceded in the entirety of the tournament. Woodnesborough A defended valiantly to hold off Bexley and won the game 1-0.
Once the full-time whistle was blown, both teams showed great camaraderie, applauding each other during the medal and trophy presentation.
Harry Burgess, Football Development Assistant, said: "It has been a fantastic day, played in great spirits and to a high standard. Walking Football is a rapidly growing area of the game, and it is exciting to host more opportunities for this demographic, who prove that age is no barrier in the sport. I would encourage anyone interested in Walking Football to give it a go. It has great physical, social and mental benefits for those who play. Congratulations to Woodnesborough A for their second consecutive victory in the 60+ Kent FA Walking Football Tournament."