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Havant and Waterlooville Over 50’s Walking Football

The Hawks Walking Football (HWF) team has been a part of the Hawks in the Community, and subsequently Hawks Foundation, family since September 2014.

Hawks Walking Football Charity Appeal 2023

For details of the charities being supported ctrl+click our GoFundMe page at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/r-bonsey-hawks-walking-football-festival-2023

HWF has thrived as a supportive and friendly group, welcoming people of all backgrounds and abilities. While like any competitors in any sport we like to win, we have always believed that giving people the chance to take part is the most important aspect of our existence. We also take player wellbeing very seriously, and play 3-touch football to minimize the risk of physical contact. It’s inevitable that players do occasionally get injured through trying to re-live their long-since passed youth, and the first part of each session is a structured warm-up to reduce the risk of injury.

All of the competitive matches we play in are for specific age groups, ranging from 50+ through to 70+.  Although our attendance at festivals, tournaments, leagues, and other assorted friendlies is arranged outside of the Hawks Foundation remit, we are proud to represent the club, wearing the badge with dignity and giving it the respect it deserves.

The club has enjoyed some success in Walking Football tournaments, including winning in France in 2016, at Fratton Park in 2018, and being crowned the inaugural Solent League Champions in 2018. Along with these on-field honours, we have twice been awarded Hampshire FA “Walking Football Team of the Year” (2016 & 2018), as well as National League Trust “Best Project for Older People” (2016 & 2018), and were named Havant Borough Sports Association (HBSA) “Senior Team of the Year” at their 2019 Awards night. While most opportunities for 2020 and 2021 were wiped out by Covid19, some individual awards were still won through HBSA, including “Service to Sport” and “Veteran Sportsman”.  Since resuming after the lifting of Covid19 restrictions we have become very successful in the monthly Hampshire League tournaments held by Hants FA, winning several times and regularly being in the mix.

The Hawks Walking Football hold their sessions on Mondays and Fridays at Westleigh Park from 9.30am until 11.00am. The session fee is £3 per person. Afterwards we retire to the main bar at the Westleigh for tea/coffee and biscuits/cake to undo any good the exercise may have just done. On Wednesday evenings we hold a session for the workers of this world, from 6.00pm until 7.00pm, also at the stadium. This session also costs £3 per person, but is subject to cancellation if the Hawks’ first team are at home that night. It is strongly suggested that players arrive 15 minutes before the evening session starts, so that they are ready for the warm-ups. There are no sessions on Bank Holidays.

If you are physically able to kick a ball, aged fifty or over, and ideally possess a sense of humour, feel free to come and join us.