For this month’s Community Focus, let’s take a look back at one of our features from the EFL Week of Action, when we caught up with former Tranmere Rovers player Dave Philpotts at over-65s Walking Football, where he has been attending to keep fit after his playing career.
Here at Prenton Park Recreation Centre, Tranmere Rovers in the Community hold four Walking Football sessions each week, with our over-65s taking the stage every Friday morning from 11am-12pm.
Dave played over 200 games for Rovers between 1974 and 1985, and now aged 68, comes along to play here every Friday on the same premises as he graced the Prenton Park turf for so many years.
Dave told us about how much it helps him keep healthy in his senior years. “It helps me an awful lot. I still do a little bit of running on other days and coming here, working out with the lads, it keeps me playing football as well so I’ve got some direction. It keeps me really, really healthy, which is what I’m pleased about, coming at my age!”
The 68-year-old also says that Walking Football helped him through a tough spell when he suffered an injury. “I had a little spell when I had a really bad injury, and I was out for three or four months. It was a killer, honestly, but having this now just keeps me going all the time and means I don’t feel lazy or stiff. This really helps me a great deal.”
Dave also recommends anyone else who is over 65 to come along as a great way to keep fit. “Anybody who is capable of doing it will do it no problem. It gets you out of the house and keeps you fit. There’s nothing worse than the older ages being regarded as sitting in a chair, having a read of a book. I don’t see that. I’d just much rather be out with the lads, out and about.”
If you are interested in coming along to over-65s Walking Football or any of our other Walking Football age group or women's sessions, please get in touch with us via Community@tranmererovers.co.uk.