Walking Football Scotland held their first National Scottish Cup and Festival since 2019 following the pandemic of Covid-19.

Just under 600 players descended on Glasgow Green Football Centre for the ever-changing weather conditions the Walking Football Tournament Scotland hosted Over 50’s, Over 60’s, Over 70’s and the inaugural Over 40’s Women’s Scottish Cups respectively.  Ayr United were directly represented in the Over 60’s and Over 70s’s, it was great for Walking Football Scotland to have Over 40’s non-competitive festival taking place too and say a massive thank you to Walking Football patron, Rose Reilly MBE for attending what was such a special day.

Event organiser Matt Ramsay said: “It’s been a long time coming and I’m delighted to welcome back so many teams and players for the biggest one-day walking football event in the world! To see players, interact, compete and simply enjoy the game and the many benefits with a smile on their face, is what makes such events all the worthwhile. The bonus is the opportunity to promote what we do and I’m grateful to the BBC for the live radio coverage helping us to encourage more people to get involved in walking football.”

However, as the day progressed, probably for the first time ever there was a mid-Tournament transfer with Ayr United’s Over 50’s Goalkeeper Walking Football Goalkeeper Stuart Galloway who was loaned to Drumchapel United to support them on their first entry to a Walking Football Tournament and they do not get much bigger in Scotland than the Walking Football Scotland Scottish Cup.  Stuart was transferred to the BBC Sportsound Pundit team for an alleged fee of two sausage rolls and can of Top Deck Shandy, to play in exhibition games with their team which included Graeme Murty, Lee Miller, Chris Burke, Kris Doolan and James McFadden. 

Stuart states ‘Having been involved in walking football at Ayr United since its inception some 8 years ago I have a lot of memorable moments of playing and making new friends.  Playing includes not only locally and in Scotland but also playing in tournaments in Spain and Portugal.  I have made numerous new friends and love the camaraderie we all have.  Today was the first time I did not play for Ayr United in a tournament and I have to say as strange as it was it was a pleasure to play with Drumchapel United, who through Colin made me feel more than welcome well in advance of today and I was well received within my new teammates.  To end up playing on the same team as Graeme Murty, Kris Doolan, Chris Burke, Lee Miller and James McFadden absolutely made the day for me.  Walking football was a major contributing factor in me losing over 11 stone by ensuring that I became and remained active in the sport I love.  Ultimately as I have learned over the last few years football is about participation, not about age or ability. Without walking football, I am convinced that my health would not be so good today.