Alcohol education charity Drinkaware has become the research partner of walking football in Scotland, supported by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Walking Football Scotland.
The partnership, announced recently at Lesser Hampden in Glasgow, extends Drinkaware’s involvement in walking football north of the border and builds on its existing walking football partnership with Derby County FC.
Walking football is a slower-paced version of the beautiful game for the over-50s, and used as a way of improving their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Through the partnership, Drinkaware will be gathering vital information from walking football participants on their health and alcohol consumption, allowing them to monitor participants’ drinking habits and subsequently try to improve them.
Drinkaware will also be distributing information on drinking and its effects on health to Walking Football participants in order to educate them on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption and the benefits of regular exercise.
At the launch, Drinkaware Chief Executive Elaine Hindal said, “Drinkaware is delighted to be partnering with the Scottish Football Association.
“Walking football is an increasingly popular way for older people to improve their health and wellbeing. Their physical fitness and mental health improve, they gain a new group of friends to counter social isolation and, on the way, they will generally cut back on their drinking.”
“Building on our previous successes with walking football in England, this partnership is a fantastic new opportunity which allows us to work directly with communities across Scotland to help people make better choices about their drinking.”
Scottish FA Chief Executive Ian Maxwell said, “The health benefits of both responsible, informed drinking and increasing participation in sport are obvious. We are extremely pleased to welcome Drinkaware on board to both help to grow walking football in Scotland and improve knowledge and awareness of responsible drinking.”
Former Scotland Team Manager and walking football ambassador Craig Brown added, “Walking Football is a fantastic way for people of my generation, who are perhaps no longer able to play at a quick pace, to participate in this wonderful sport and remain active.”
Captions to attached image:
(l-r): Andy Gould, Head of Football Development, Scottish FA; Gary McLaughlin, Chairman of Walking Football Scotland; Ian Maxwell, CEO of Scottish FA; Elaine Hindal and Craig Brown, former Scotland team Manager and Walking Football ambassador
