Walking with Legends

Sport and Public Services’ students from NPTC Group of Colleges have been showing cardiovascular disease the red card by refereeing the ‘Walking with Legends’ Walking Football tournament at Llandarcy Academy of Sport.

Organised by a group of young people from the Swansea area through the Premier League Works, the tournament, was attended by Swansea City Midfielder Leroy Fer and club ambassador Lee Trundle, filmed by Match of the Day, and saw teams travel from across the country to compete. 

Swindon, Cardiff and Newport’s Walking Football all took part in the round robin tournament. Two teams took part from the Community Trust’s Walking Football initiative which focuses on community inclusion, including the Change Step Military Veteran’s charity team.

The tournament was capped off with an exhibition match that pitted Lee Trundle and Leroy Fer along with a number of young Premier League Work’s players against the refs and volunteers from the College.

Walking football is designed to improve cardiovascular health, at an intensity that is right for all participants, while offering the chance to socialise and have fun. It’s now so popular there are more than 800 walking football clubs registered in the UK, and as a result of that surge in popularity the FA is issuing an official rulebook next month.

Barry Roberts, NPTC Group of Colleges’ Head of Sport and Public Services said:

‘’Tournaments and events like these are a fantastic opportunity for our young sports students to get first-hand experience at refereeing at a premier level. It’s a chance to demonstrate skills on and off the pitch that not only enhance their sporting careers but are valuable to future employers.   We are delighted with the success of the day and the ongoing relationship with the Swansea City Community Trust, which encompasses not just football, but tennis and now the ever popular walking football!’’