More than 150 people from across south east England came to South Oxfordshire on Wednesday 5 July to take part in GO Active Gold’s Walking Football Tournament.
The tournament took place at East Hagbourne Pavilion grounds and involved 17 teams of over-55s competing in up to eight matches.
As temperatures rose on and off the pitch, the final match saw Gloucestershire’s Abbeymead Rovers overcome Birmingham 4-1 to be crowned champions.
Thame based Cllr Jeannette Matelot, Chairman of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We were delighted to host teams from across the south east for the Walking Football Tournament. This was a great showcase for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports and the work we do in southern Oxfordshire, through the GO Active Gold programme, to promote participation among older people.”
Cllr Reg Waite, Chairman of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “GO Active Gold is a fantastic scheme reaching thousands of residents, many of whom do not have easy access to regular activities. This tournament and events such as the Vintage Village Games and Nordic Walking are making a real difference to people’s lives, helping them to be more active and feel a greater part of the community.”
The GO Active Gold Walking Football tournament was organised by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils Go Active Gold team. They work to help older people live more active life styles by setting up physical activities in rural areas. Since launching in 2016 the scheme has reached over 1,500 people across 48 southern Oxfordshire communities.
