Ramsgate’s 60 + walking football team have clinched the county title following a tournament in Maidstone.
Ten teams took part in the event. They were split into two groups, and played each team in their group to determine who would progress onto the knockout stages of the tournament.
The top two teams from each group progressed to the semi-final, with the winner of each group playing the runner-up of the other group. Ramsgate (8 points) and Maidstone United (10 points) topped their respective groups, emerging as two of the favourites going into the knockout stage of the tournament.
With just four teams left in the competition, Ramsgate came up against Tonbridge Totterers, and Maidstone United faced off against Margate.
Ramsgate narrowly won on penalties after a 1-1 draw against Tonbridge Totterers, and progressed into the final. Maidstone United looked strong in their semi-final with a 2-0 victory against Margate.
In the final, Maidstone applied pressure from the start of the game, with several shots being put wide of the Ramsgate goal. Ramsgate went down to 5 players after a player was sent off for stopping a goalscoring opportunity. It seemed like it would only be a matter of time before Maidstone United scored.
But Ramsgate defended bravely and managed to keep the score at 0-0 to take the final to penalties. The first 4 penalties from each team were scored before the Ramsgate goalkeeper saved one; meaning the team won the competition.
Ramsgate team member Tim Mather said: “We train and play twice a week at the Ramsgate football ground, every Wednesday and Friday from 10am until midday.
“This is the first time we have won (the tournament) and the second time we have entered the competition.”
The walking football club has been running for eight years. Tim, who has played for the last six years, says there is a core group of about 18 people who play and many others who may no longer play but remain in touch and attend social events.
Harry Burgess, Football Development Officer, said: “I am very proud of how the tournament went. The day was played in great spirits and to a high standard.
“Walking Football is a rapidly growing area of the game and it is great to host more provisions for this demographic who prove that age is not a barrier to involvement in the sport.
“I would encourage anyone interested in this sport to give it a go. It can have great physical, social, and mental benefits to those who play. Thank you to all the teams that took part and the St John’s ambulance volunteers who were in attendance. Congratulations to Ramsgate for their victory in the 60+ Kent FA Walking Football Tournament.”
To find out more about Walking Football in Kent, contact [email protected]
Details with thanks to Kent FA
