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Walking Football pays tribute to lost generation

Stalybridge Celtic Community Development were pleased to be invited along to the #footballremembers event in Glossop recently. Glossop social enterprise WellFit CIC brought college students and men old enough to be their grandfathers together in a tribute to a lost generation of Glossop youth by organising a 'Walking Football' tournament designed to commemorate the No Man's Land Football Match of 1914. The Private Frank Wharmby Memorial Cup was named after a young Glossop man who went off to fight in the Great War and never came back, his name has been remembered by the students of Glossopdale Community College and four teams of walking footballers which included High Sheriff of Derbyshire, David Coleman, the Leader of High Peak Borough Council, Caitlin Bisknell and the Principal of the college, Steve Playford. 

Played on the 3G pitch at the college's Hadfield site the tournament, which stopped at 11am so that the players and the crowd of Year 7 and 8 students could observe a minute's silence in memory of Glossop's fallen, was organised on the day by a team of post-16 students and featured teams from The Gentlemen of Glossop, Just Play United, our very own, Vintage Celtic and eventual winners The Boys in Blue which featured serving and retired police officers. 

Perhaps fittingly the trophy, which was commissioned and presented by Councillor George Wharmby who named it for his great uncle was won in a tense final by The Boys in Blue whose captain, former chief constable David Coleman was impressed by the organisation of the event and the engagement and enjoyment of the students who watched the games as part of the college's World War 1 Day.

WellFit Director, Mick Owen, was also pleased with how things went: "We had a great morning with everyone enjoying the experience of tournament play. It was a shame that home team The Gentlemen of Glossop were just eased out in the final but you have to admire the Boys in Blue who married disparate talents into a decent side and probably deserved the win on balance. The students who refereed did really well and it was great to have some Year 7 and 8 students come out to watch some of the games and join in the minute's silence. We wanted to reference the Christmas Day Match in No Man's Land and help the students recognise that Glossop men and boys and German men and boys just like them, went to Flanders and never came home and I am very proud that we achieved that."

Anyone inspired by this story to take up Walking Football or recommend it to an older relative or friend should contact Mick Owen on 07944 605508 or contact Mike Smith at community@stalybridgeceltic.co.uk