By Anne Akers
When the West Leeds Dispatch was challenged to a match by Bramley Walking Wanderers Football Group, the first thing we did was to accept. The second was to put out an appeal for players to form a team, because we didn’t have one!
Of course, we did have a goalie. Editor John has been quite a useful five-a-side goalie and had his gloves ready. More team members came forward from our community reporters and board and the game was on!
Walking football is like ordinary football played on a smaller pitch with mixed teams of six or seven, all aged over 50. Running is not only discouraged, it’s penalised and there’s no tackling. The ball hasn’t to go too high and there’s no dribbling.
The Bramley club started in 2019, and with a break for lockdown, has been meeting nearly every week since, either at Armley Leisure Centre or the pitch on Broad Lane, depending on the time or year and the weather. We heard they were rather good, we heard correctly.
Fortunately for us, the challenge was held indoors at Armley on another wet February 2026 day. Being a well-established and popular group, Bramley had enough players for two teams with a few extra. We had enough for one and brought along noisy supporters.
We had an enthusiastic start, winning the first game, but Bramley showed their experience and skills by coming back in the second game. But a draw was a good result, though we’ll be aching all over tomorrow! There’s already talk of a return match – watch this space!
The Bramley Walking Wanderers meet every Friday, anyone is welcome. To find out more, email contact@yourbackyard.org.uk or call 07970 903 766.
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