A retiree from the United Kingdom is hoping a tame version of one of the world’s most popular sports takes off in Logan.
Carbrook resident Michael Hulse four years ago moved to Australia from the UK, where walking soccer – or walking football, as he calls it – is already incredibly popular.
The rules of walking football are almost identical to the real game. There’s just no running.
Mr Hulse said Logan and the rest of Australia was lagging behind.
“Walking football is massive in the UK, it’s massive outside Australia – you are very slow on the take up,” he said.
“I lived in Cypress for a while, and in Cypress it is really massive.
“It will catch up here, because you do get a lot of Poms.”
Mr Hulse is launching a new team for local men aged over 60, of any skill level and experience, to play every week at Slacks Creek Football Club at Usher Park in Daisy Hill.
“The idea is to get a lot of people together who probably used to play football, but can’t anymore,” he said.
Mr Hulse said there were a few blokes who he has played with in other teams that were already eager to train on Tuesdays.
“It’s a great laugh. The guys get together and at full time we all have tea and a coffee, sit and chat, and reminisce about how great it was in the glory days.”
Mr Hulse said it was a nice time to socialise and meet new people.
And who knows, it might save you money one day.
Mr Hulse said one of his teammates is a Bobcat operator who is currently helping him build a football field in his backyard.
“It’s things like that – you get to know people from all sorts of different trades and they might be able to give you a hand,” he said.
“It’s very social… [but] if you want to take it seriously, you can.”
He said it didn’t matter your experience or ability – all are welcome.
“It doesn’t matter. Just come here and enjoy it,” he said.
“When we do the competitions, we will just cherry pick the players – some don’t want to play in them anyway.”
Plans for a women’s team are also on the table.
“We’re hoping… to get more and more people involved,” he said.
Mr Hulse thanked the crew at the Slacks Creek Football Club for providing the space for the new team.
“They have been brilliant,” he said.
The new team, called the Aussie Goal Hunters, will train every Tuesday from 9-10am from 4 March.
“We would very much like to see players who would like to take part in this low impact version of the beautiful game,” Mr Hulse said.
“This is such an exciting opportunity and will benefit the walking football community by providing much needed additional sessions and walking football opportunities.”
Mr Hulse is also planning to put a team in the QUT cup at the end of April, where the Aussie Goal Hunters will be “going for gold”.
The cost per session is $5. Tea, coffee, biscuits and “lots of laughs and banter” are provided.
Those interested in playing the game can contact Mr Hulse on 0439098571 or mickelhulse@btinternet.com.
