A team of Angus football veterans will fly the flag for Scotland in an Auld Enemy clash of their own on Sunday.
Two days after Gordon Strachan’s senior team go up against England at Wembley in what is sure to be a typically blood and thunder fare, Montrose Walking FC will represent Scotland in the slowed-down version of the beautiful game.
The team, which is organised by the Links Park Community Trust (LPCT), were given a pre-match talk by the last Scotland manager to take the country to a major tournament and the last to beat England at Wembley, Craig Brown.
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) also arranged for the team to receive Scotland tracksuits and T-shirts which were presented by the former Scotland manager who took in the team’s final training session before they travel to Hartlepool for the UK Home Nations Walking Football Championships.
Brown said: “It was a pleasure to meet with the squad ahead of their big tournament and I was only too happy to share a few stories with them from my time as Scotland manager.
“I hope they have an enjoyable experience and do themselves proud.”
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan also sent a video message to the squad who will take on their English (Herne Bay) and Welsh (Merthyr Tydfil) counterparts in the competition.
The Montrose team earned the right to represent their country on Sunday after being crowned Scottish Walking Football Champions in Edinburgh in June.
The festival, which was co-ordinated by Paths for All as part of the Scottish Government’s Active Scotland strategy, saw 26 teams of over 50’s from across Scotland battle it out.
Montrose Walking Football Club had to endure a challenging group stage and semi-final, before proudly lifting the trophy by narrowly edging past Midlothian in the inaugural final.
Peter Davidson, Chief Executive of the Links Park Community Trust, said: “The boys are ready.They have been applying themselves well in training over the last few weeks, under the watchful eye of their Manager Darren Logan.
“They always play with smiles on their faces, which is fantastic to see, so regardless of the outcome on Sunday, we are sure our players will have an enjoyable and rewarding time representing their country.”
Walking football has grown rapidly across Scotland by allowing people to reignite their passion for football, despite injury or illness, simply by slowing things down.
Billy Singh, Walking Football Development Officer for Paths for All said: “Montrose Walking Football Club were worthy winners of the Scottish Walking Football festival in June of this year where they were up against 23 other teams from all over Scotland.
“I am sure they will do Scotland proud both on and off the pitch and hopefully they will return with the winner’s trophy.”
