What does WFS mean to you?

From Jim Coates

W.F.S.
You probably know what these three initials mean.
Walking Football Spain, right?
Correct, they do, but to me they stand for three other things too.
For me, the letters also represent Well-being, Fitness and Socialising.

Let me explain…

Walking Football Spain, to the uninitiated, is an association which was formed to encourage footballers of a certain age-group, who maybe thought their sporting days were over, to get back out on the pitch again, for the love of the game. While the old pro’s maxim that your legs never come back might be true, I’d contest that other important factors like skill, experience and knowledge of the game never leave you and while you may no longer be able to play alongside or against all the young whippersnappers anymore (if you ever could!), there’s every chance you’d be able to hold your own against players of your own age-group.

Where WFS comes in, is that it brings together like-minded individuals in the over-50’s age-group to participate and compete in a sport they love and perhaps thought they couldn’t play anymore. Possibly you haven’t donned your football trainers for years, maybe you thought you were too old, too out of condition or even just too rubbish to do so. Of course, you could still be a regular player back home and want to continue playing the beautiful game out here. You may never even have played the game at all but always wanted to have a go. Whichever category you fall into, I say, why not approach your local WFS group and come on down to see if it’s for you. You don’t even have to play straight away, just come along, check it out and see if it’s something you might want to join in when you’re ready.

There are a number of different WFS outposts on the Costa Del Sol, playing on different days of the week, at different times of day and night so that you should be able to find a game someplace, sometime, near you, even if you have other commitments. There are different age-groups too, (they go all the way up to the over-70’s) and different skill-levels within the groups, so that you should soon find a bunch of fellow-enthusiasts at your own level where you can feel relatively comfortable on the park.

The games are all played at outdoor venues, which means that when you’re exerting yourself out there, you’re gulping in fresh air, boosting your circulation, moving your body, using your brain and if you’re like any of the guys I play with, exercising the sound of your voice too, which at least has to be good for their lungs if not your ears!

Some games, it’s true, involve as much running as walking, which means if you want to join a more or less mobile group, the choice will be yours, but either way, you’re participating in valuable physical exercise which has to be good for your general well-being.

Then, once the game is over, and here I’m speaking from my own experience, there’s always the offer to stay behind with the rest of the players and enjoy a drink or two while listening to or contributing to the general banter. Almost no subjects are off-limits, most usually the discussions or conversations centre on our beloved football, past, present and future, local, national and international, but personally, I’ve enjoyed conversations recently on economics, 70’s American west-coast bands, golf, the best local eateries or just the latest crime drama on TV. However, if you’re a more reserved or private person and conversation isn’t your thing, you’ll still be welcomed and respected for just playing even if you just want to play and go, directly after the game.

Certainly, getting out and walking/running around for an hour on the pitch as many times a week as you want, has to be good for the body and mind. If you come off the pitch having played well (and you’ll know when you have done!), you’ll naturally be keen to get back out and do it again, but if you’re more like me and have the odd off day, you won’t find anyone holding recriminations against you, although I can’t lie, there are moaners amongst us! Seriously though, I’ve always found that even the most competitive of us switch off the minute the game is over, which is as it should be and you’ll always be encouraged to come back next time. The rule always, is what plays on the pitch, stays on the pitch! Anyhow, there’s always the next game where as the managers of today say, you can pick yourself up and go again. Or as Samuel Beckett once said, “Never mind, try again, fail again, fail better”. At the end of the day, it’s only a friendly kick-about and not to be taken too seriously.

Personally, I got into WFS while out walking our dog one Sunday morning and happened to come upon a keenly contested game of football at the Retamar facility in Benalmádena Pueblo. On closer inspection I noticed that the players were of an age with myself. I’ve not played football at any official level but always used to enjoy a game of five-a-sides usually at the end of the working week and from what I saw, I thought maybe I could get out there and join them. So I went home and soon found a local contact point for the group on Facebook, made contact and was invited down the next time players were needed. I took the precaution of taking a little time to exercise beforehand so as not to crock myself first time out although I would point out that every game sensibly starts with a group warm-up to hopefully prevent sometimes avoidable strains and other injuries.
I can’t remember now how I played my first time out, but I enjoyed it enough and was made more than welcome by the people there so that I went back the next week and have hardly missed a game since. I’m sure it has helped me with my weight-control and physical condition. I always look forward to the games and catching up with the regulars but it’s also good to meet and greet new players.

We’re all aware I’m sure, of the terrible impact the Corona Virus has had on our daily lives over the last year and its debilitating effect on physical and especially mental health. WFS I believe offers a useful and indeed valuable outlet to encourage us to get out the house, walk or run about and indulge in a bit of friendly after-match banter.

So why not say goodbye to your sofa for an hour or so and give it a go. Naturally almost every game is played in the dry under the sun, making playing conditions ideal.

Try it, you’ve nothing to lose but your own lethargy!