Liverpool County FA coach leads England Parkinson’s Walking Football Team in USA tournament
A Liverpool County FA (LCFA) coach has just led the England Parkinson’s Walking Football Team at a tournament in the USA.
Stuart Carrington, LCFA’s football development officer and manager of the England Parkinson’s Walking Football Team, flew to the Cinco Soccer centre in Tampa, FL, with two squads to introduce walking football to communities in the USA.
The squad stayed in the US for one week with the event being spread over a weekend.
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Saturday was scheduled as a ‘fun day’ which allowed a variety of people to try walking football for the very first time.
Carrington explained the immediate impact this had, and recounted a lady telling him her husband was brought to tears about having the ability to play football again.
The tournament was held on Sunday with teams from Colombia, the USA, and two from England competing - Both English teams made the final and battled out a tight game that ended 1-0.
Carrington highlighted the importance of playing internationally as he said: “When we go to different countries we want to show the benefit of walking football to those with Parkinson’s. And the only way we can survive as a sport is if we go international.”
With the landmark trip to the US, this is just one example of the England team going abroad to demonstrate the power of walking football.
The national team competes at the annual Ray Kennedy Cup which invites national walking football teams from around the world to compete in the tournament, and two years ago the side was invited to Singapore to compete against able-bodied players.
It was in Singapore where Carrington pointed out the major benefits of walking football for those with Parkinson's as he detailed: “The biggest outcome from that trip was people didn’t realise the team had Parkinson’s.”
When concerning the progression of the sport for people suffering from Parkinson’s, Carrington described it as a ‘Catch 22’.
He said: "We never want to see people diagnosed, but we want to be there to help, your life can go on. When we do a footballing session there’s the social aspect in it as well and then you see the camaraderie that gets built.”
Moving forward the team are set to play in the Sport Parkinson’s Cup in April at St George’s Park, but will continue to spread their message internationally later this year as they’ve been invited to a tournament in Bali this coming November.
Carrington asserts the social aspect of walking football and regardless of ability all are welcome to join in the weekly sessions at The Brunswick Community Centre, Bootle, every Friday at 11:15am.
