Link to full article: https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/walking-football-club-in-farnborough-raises-1-000-for-hospice/

‘Phyllis Tuckwell was chosen as our charity for this function, as a number of members have links with the trust through family bereavements.’

‘We are so grateful to the Cove Walking Football Club for their support and this fantastic donation. £1060 could pay for a week’s care from a Clinical Nurse Specialist, who is often the first point of contact patients have with us after their referral. Our clinical nurse specialists assess patients and families, provide expert advice, as well as completing advance care planning and end-of-life care, they also then go on to refer patients and relatives on to other services within Phyllis Tuckwell.

The impact of the pandemic meant so many fundraising events were cancelled, so donations such as this are vital to help us continue our care, free of charge, for those in the community when they need us most.

A huge thank you to all the players, staff and supporters of the Cove Walking Football Club for making this donation possible.’

Charlotte Quay-Barnham, Community Fundraising Manager

Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care,
Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8BL
www.pth.org.uk

Photography by Ella Fowler

Backstory

Cove Walking Football Club (CWFC)

CWFC was founded in 2019 and currently has in excess of 100 members. The minimum age to play is 50 and our oldest playing member is 81. We have a very mixed ability of footballing skills and new players are always welcome. The concept behind walking football is to enable us old’uns to participate in our favourite sport into old age, enjoy the company of like-minded individuals, get fitter and healthier, and generally have a bit of fun. We play four sessions a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 11am and Monday evenings from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Owing to demand, we are likely to introduce a second evening session on a Thursday. Sessions take place on the 3G pitch at Cove Football Club, Squirrel Lane, Farnborough, Hampshire. Sessions see anything from 20 – 30 members participating. We play in the Surrey and Middlesex leagues and we also regularly organise Sunday morning friendlies with other clubs, which are used as a vehicle to raise funds for local charities.

The pandemic curbed our ability to socialise outside of our playing sessions, but the easing of restrictions meant that we were able to organise our first social event for two years. These socials are an important part of the philosophy of the club, because they give an opportunity to involve wives and partners, and also to promote the friendship and support between members, which can be an important aid for mental health.

The social event took place at Camberley Heath Golf Club on Saturday, 19^th February, dancing to the music of ‘Music City Sounds’. Some of the moves on the dance floor were better than those seen on the pitch! Members donated prizes for a raffle, which raised £1,060 from the 85 attendees, a remarkable result. Phyllis Tuckwell was chosen as our charity for this function, as a number of members have links with the trust through family bereavements and, given the demographic of our members, is a place dear to the hearts of many of us. My own father-in-law and next door neighbour both passed their final days in Phyllis Tuckwell.

We always welcome new members, come and join us, get fitter and healthier, make new friends and have some fun.

 

Steve Swain
Secretary
CWFC