Did you know Bolsover District Council was instrumental in helping to get the now-global phenomenon of walking football off the ground?
Although neighbouring Chesterfield is officially recognised as the birthplace of the hugely popular sport, Bolsover’s local authority staff played a pivotal role in developing and piloting the concept during initial local sessions.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary this month, walking football is now played by hundreds of thousands of players, with thousands of teams worldwide.
It’s the brainchild of John Croot, chief executive of Chesterfield Football Club and the club’s Community Trust.
In 2011, John and the Trust were tasked with coming up with a way of getting Over-50s fit.
John knew that football would be a popular option, but that running was a barrier.
So he came up with the idea of the gentler walking football – despite facing laughter and scepticism from some.
But Adam Norman, who was a community sports coach with Bolsover District Council at the time, as well as an academy coach at Chesterfield, embraced the new concept and worked alongside Chesterfield legend Andy Morris on the pioneering initiative.
Despite just a handful of players initially turning out, the sport grew due to the commitment of both players and the delivery team.
Once national media channels like Sky Sports New picked up the story, its popularity spread and it’s since been launched to the 55 EUFA member nations.
Adam, who helped to implement strict walking-only rules, said: “The trust didn’t have the capacity or the resources to start it, so they came to Bolsover District Council and asked us for support.
“We said ‘yes’, and the rest is history.”
Adam, now Physical Activity & Sports Development Manager at the district council, was even invited to deliver a walking football session at St George's Park, the Football Association's national football centre, during the sport’s early years.
He added: “It’s unbelievable – the original blueprint we created is now enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people. It’s not just a powerful health and wellbeing intervention, but it’s also the camaraderie that comes with it. “
Some of the original members are still friends and coming along to matches 15 years on.”
Neil Haddy, one of the original four players
Neil, 77, who lives in Chesterfield and is one of the original four players, signed up after seeing a poster while taking his grandchildren swimming at the former Queen’s Park Leisure Centre, which stood on the site of the current 3G pitch.
The retired customs officer, who used to play for amateur, works’ and league teams and has had roles including referee and club treasurer, said: “The slower pace really appealed to me.
“Our mantra is the Three Fs – fun, friendship and fitness.
“When I retired, my only friends in Chesterfield were people I worked with. Now I’ve made a whole bunch of friends through walking football.”
Describing the sport’s longevity and local inception, Neil added: “It’s definitely something to be proud of.”
John Croot – who is lauded internationally and regularly invited to walking football associations’ events across the globe – said: “I know Bolsover District Council came on board really early and saw the potential of it, which was fantastic.
“However, I don’t think anyone appreciated what was to come and that it was to go on to be one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
“Equally more important is it’s opened up a new area of sport for part of the community which thought they had had their time.
“It’s also about the benefits off the pitch – players make new friends. We have walking football participants who come to Chesterfield matches and say they wished they’d got together 30 years ago.”
Other variations of walking sport have since grown, including walking cricket, walking tennis, walking rugby and walking basketball. Chesterfield FC Community Trust also offers walking football for women aged over 40.
Here at Bolsover District Council, Adam and his team are coming up with even more pioneering ideas to help people to get fit.
“We’ve had a couple of crazy ideas over the last few months. A couple of people have said ‘that’s not going to work’, but I just say ‘walking football…’.”
Councillor Mary Dooley, Bolsover District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, said: “Walking football may now be a worldwide sport, but part of its story can be traced back to pioneering work undertaken here in the Bolsover district.
“The council remains proud to have played a role in helping to shape a movement that continues to transform lives through sport and physical activity across the world.”