“Exciting times are around the corner for the WFLA and competitive Walking Football, be part of its development”
2019
The Walking Football Leagues Alliance (‘WFLA’) was established in 2019. Its ethos would be, and it is still today are that:
- The WFLA would always be a free to join, non-political, independent support network whose aims are to help establish, promote, and support FA affiliated walking football leagues and to encourage the growth of grassroots through competitive walking football in safe environments and;
- All WFLA national and local tournaments would be sanctioned by local FA’s, which sit under the rules and regulations of the Football Association.
Originally four people were involved in discussions about establishing an organisation which would bring together teams from the North of England. The four were Mick Hill, the well-respected referee from Lincolnshire, Paul Jackson (Derbyshire WFL), Bill Murney (Greater Manchester WFL) and Peter Stacey (Sheffield WFC).
In early 2019 two meetings were held in Darrington, Yorkshire to discuss this proposal. A brief of the organisation would be:
- To operate a website.
- To manage a schedule of walking football activity and events.
- To train and develop referees.
- To give advice to new groups wanting to start up a walking football league in their area and offer support in the organisation of tournaments, competitions, and events.
Nothing was developed from these meetings and Mick Hill became involved in the Walking Football Referees Association (WFRA). Bill Murney suggested a Federation of Walking Football Leagues might have more merit even if it started small with a few Northern and Midlands Leagues involved.
It was agreed that the leagues in such an organisation would have to be FA affiliated and this would give the newly named “Walking Football Leagues’ Alliance” some credibility with the FA, leading to its acceptance and cooperation in the future, especially with walking football referee training courses.
Peter Stacey, even though initially keen on the proposed organisation, decided that he wanted to concentrate on Sheffield WFC and his international involvement. This left Paul Jackson and Bill Murney to work towards establishing the WFLA. It was decided that Paul Jackson should approach Derek Murr, Chairman of the Essex WFL at that time, for them to join the WFLA and Derek agreed to join the WFLA Committee.