Local players feature for Ireland in walking football

The Willow Park men’s walking football team continues to flourish, becoming a focal point for former and new players of a certain vintage in the Athlone community.

The team was founded in 2021, the players meet twice weekly at the home of Willow Park FC. For an hour of their day, they savour the enjoyment and reward that non-competitive football brings to their lives.

Such is the standard of players regularly appearing on the Willow Park astro-turf, the club has received international recognition with three players, Denis Clarke, Gerry McHugh and Jim Rockcliffe appearing at tournaments for the Ireland team.

First mooted by the FAI’s Development Officer for Westmeath Glen Byrne, the club was founded by the quartet of Jimmy Greene, Gerry McHugh, Padraig Gaffey and Anthony Monaghan. This quartet remain instrumental to the club’s activities and the game has grown in popularity.

“We were one of the first clubs to form outside of Dublin and once word started to go around that there was a walking football team in Athlone, such is the popularity of the game that numbers gradually started to increase,” said Anthony Monaghan.

As numbers started to grow, the option of participating in walking football tournaments became a reality and with the standard “being competitive” it allowed players from the club to express their talents on a national level.

National and international tournaments cater for players at over 50, over 60, over 65 and over 70 age groups. The trio of Clarke, McHugh and Rockcliffe have featured at a number of tournaments on the international stage.

Clarke has donned the national colours at over-60 tournaments in Morocco, Rome, Nantes, Wales and England. He recently returned from Wales where he was part of the Ireland team to win a quadrangular tournament competing against Wales, England and the Caribbean.

“The standard is extremely high at these international tournaments. Former Manchester United striker Peter Davenport plays for England so you can imagine the calibre of player that you can come up against,” Denis said.

At tournament standard, the games are 30 minutes in duration and in keeping with regulations, players have to keep one foot on the ground at all times to avoid being penalised.

“The teams are usually six-a-side so you are working hard throughout the game. Representing your country is a real honour, exchanging pennants with your international counterparts, standing for the national anthem. At this stage of life it’s a great reward but when the football starts, we take it seriously,” Denis said.

The former Athlone Town player, who won two League of Ireland Premier Division titles with Athlone Town, said there is “little difference” between the competing countries at tournaments with Ireland continuing to make progress on the international stage.

Fellow walking football international player Gerry McHugh has played for Ireland at “four or five” tournaments. The long-time Willow Park resident said the game has given him a “new lease of life”.

“I never thought I’d have the opportunity to still be playing football as I approach my 70th birthday. This game has offered me the chance to play a game I love at a local level with friends and also at an international level,” Gerry said.

Synonymous with Willow Park FC, Gerry is looking forward to continuing his walking football journey with the over-70s national team when he reaches the milestone next year. Plans are currently in the infant stages to form a national walking football league. Expected to comprise of League of Ireland clubs, the players will compete as Athlone Town when a new era of walking football commences.

“The players have represented Athlone Town at a number of FAI organised competitions in Abbotstown and it is a positive for the game that a national league will hopefully start next year. It will be great to set our standards against the best clubs throughout the country,” Denis said.

While international recognition has befallen the three players from the club, the crux of walking football is the escapism and camaraderie in abundance it allows the players on a bi-weekly basis.

The hours spent on the Willow Park astro-turf have a “positive mental health” impact, according to both Denis and Gerry.

“I love to meet like-minded people who love to play and talk about football. We meet for two hours during the week, play our football and just enjoy each other’s company. To see players who never played the game before take on a new opportunity in their lives, that is what it’s all about,” Denis said.

Gerry is of a similar opinion, citing Covid is a primary reason for such community initiatives becoming popular in wake of the pandemic.

“Mentally, walking football is an escape for us all. It feels more like a men’s shed, we play for an hour then make time for a chat in the clubhouse. We all need the release,” Gerry said.

Both are encouraging more players to become involved and with the popularity of walking football likely to continue in the future, player numbers are expected to increase at the club’s bi-weekly sessions in Willow Park.