“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.
2020
With the COVID-19 pandemic putting a stop to all walking football, the recruitment of member leagues became a slow process.
2021
By October 2021, the WFLA had 14 member leagues and with COVID-19 somewhat under control, it promised a return for walking football. The first AGM was arranged for September 2021 at ‘The Nuthall’ pub/restaurant in Nottingham. This was attended by seven Alliance members, where amongst other items, the WFLA Constitution was discussed.
Competitions on the WFLA’s agenda were to form a National Cup, a League Champions Cup and an Inter League Cup, for member teams in the Over 50’s, Over 60s, Over 65’s and Over 70’s age categories.
Overall Cup Competition Rules were also discussed and various principles were agreed upon. Finally, the WFLA Management Committee Officers roles were discussed, and it was agreed that rather than nominate and elect Officers for the official positions of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, there would initially be a voluntary Management Committee. The League Representatives who had attended the meeting all agreed to this proposal.
A Secretary was still needed, and Bill Murney agreed to continue as the Acting General Secretary. A Treasurer would be needed before the 2022 competitions started and this role would have to be filled nearer the time. Paul Jackson agreed to be the Acting Chairman and Derek Murr was also appointed as the Acting Treasurer.
2022
In May 2022, Paul Jackson decided to resign from the WFLA Management Committee due to operational differences with other Management Committee members and the Derbyshire WFL subsequently withdrew from the WFLA, much to the disappointment of several of their member teams. Hedley Austin of the Wales Walking Football Federation agreed to take over the role of Acting Chairman.
The WFLA held their first competition on the 28th May 2022, where the WFLA Inter League Cup was played at Leek Town FC with 13 teams involved entered across 4 age categories.
A second WFLA competition, the League Champions Cup was held on 11th June 2022, also at Leek Town FC. This featured 13 teams across 4 age categories.
In June 2022, Mick Hill, who had resigned from the WFRA, was asked if he would like to be involved with the WFLA and in July 2022, he agreed to be the WFLA’s Referee Appointments Officer.
In July 2022, a partnership was formed with the England Walking Football Community (‘EWFC’), which is chaired by Tony Norton and is involved in international walking football. The WFLA and the EWFC both had the same aims to organise National Cup competitions and support the Football Association as the National Governing Body for walking football. The EWFC agreed to give international priority to players from WFLA member leagues. Tony Norton also agreed to join the WFLA Committee.
In September 2022, the second AGM was a virtual meeting using the Zoom platform, with 11 member leagues being represented. As there were no nominations for officers being received, the Acting Officers were voted in unanimously. These were Hedley Austin (Chairman), Bill Murney (General Secretary), Derek Murr (Treasurer). Derek Murr also agreed to serve as Recruitment Officer. Mick Hill and Tony Norton also joined the Management Committee. With a few amendments the WFLA Constitution was agreed.
A further Zoom meeting was called in November 2022 to confirm the revised WFLA Cup Competition Rules.
2023
By March 2023, the WFLA had recruited more member leagues and the number now stood at 22
members.
The first WFLA National Cup was organised and the WFLA received 237 entries, a number far higher than was anticipated. The finals for the WFLA National Cup were to be played at Redditch Utd FC, home of the England Walking Football Community.
The second WFLA League Champions Cup and the WFLA Inter League Cup were arranged for the 20th and 21st May 2023, respectively. The League Champions Cup would be contested by 29 teams and the Inter-League Cup by 27 teams, both, more than doubling the 2022 entrants. The Finals for each were played at the excellent Redditch Utd FC ground. Both competitions were highly successful and received many positive testimonials.
In June, Hedley Austin resigned as Chairman due to conflicts of interest. Tony Norton volunteered to be the Acting Chairman until the forthcoming AGM and Mick Hill as Vice Chairman. Two new members of the WFLA Management Committee were appointed, Mick Geraghty of the Middlesex FA WFL and Colin Strong of the Birmingham County WFL.
The total membership now stood at 26 FA affiliated leagues.
In September, 44 teams across 6 age categories, which now included Women’s Over 40s and Over 50s, contested the first WFLA National Cup Grand Finals at the Redditch Utd FC ground.
The third WFLA AGM was held on 9th October 2023. This was a virtual meeting attended by five Officers and five league representatives. Tony Norton was confirmed as the WFLA Chairman and Mick Hill as the Vice Chairman. Three new additions to the Management Committee were appointed at the meeting, Wendy Benson, John Cooney and Steve Sanderson. All three were also appointed to the Tournament Committee along with Mick Hill and Bill Murney.
Registration forms for the three WFLA tournaments were emailed to all member leagues on 25th October 2023. At the deadline date of 20th December 2023, 295 teams had registered for the National Cup. The WFLA league membership now stood at 27 FA affiliated leagues.
2024
At September the WFLA membership stood at 29 member leagues and our records showed that 2024 exceeded 2023 across all our competitions.
The WFLA National Cup attracted 295 teams across all of the age ranges that competed in the initial ‘Locals’ Round ending up with 35 Finalists across all of the age ranges. The Finals being held over the weekend of the 7th and 8th September 2024.
The WFLA Inter League Cup attracted 41 teams across all of the age ranges with the Finals held over the weekend of the 11th and 12th May 2024.
The WFLA League Champions Cup attracted 40 teams across all of the age ranges with the Finals held over the weekend of the 15th and 16th June 2024.
Once again, like 2023, all WFLA cup competition Finals were held at Redditch United FC, Valley Stadium, Bromsgrove Road, Redditch, Worcs B97 4AU.
For 2024 all of our Finals were sponsored by the National Walking Football Alliance (‘NWFA’) and were supported by the England Walking Football Community (‘EWFC’), Colchester Trophies, St. John Ambulance and Redditch United FC.
The Winners. Runners-Up etc., are posted on our web page here.
After the National Cup Grand Finals in September, our Referee Appointments Officer and Vice Chairman Mick Hill, resigned his positions. The WFLA Officers & Committee thanked Mick for the tremendous work he had performed in these two positions. Mick brought a wealth of experience of officiating and implementing the FA Laws Of The Game to the WFLA and of course his involvement in the three WFLA competitions. This was appreciated by all at the WFLA and by our member leagues and players as well. Mick remains heavily involved with Grimsby Corinthians WFC, the FA Advisory Board for walking football, and felt he needed to spend more time with these organisations and understandably with his family. However, Mick continues to offer help and guidance to the WFLA and he agreed to be appointed as the ‘WFLA Consultant Life Member.’
Also, in September: the WFLA announced that one of our top referees, Mike Willmore, agreed to become the new WFLA Referees’ Appointments Officer. Mike succeeded Mick Hill, who will be a hard act to follow, but we had every confidence that Mike would be a major success in his new role; and Colin Strong organiser of the Birmingham County WFL and a WFLA committee member was appointed as the new WFLA Vice Chairman.