Martin Dawson Memorial Trophy - Heywood, Lancashire - 10th September 2017

It was 12 months ago, almost to the day, when a Wanderers 60+ side entered the Martin Dawson Memorial trophy in Heywood, Lancashire and had the audacity to bring the trophy back to Yorkshire following three penalty shootout victories.

That 2016 victory was the first 60+ success for the club, and resulted in an invite to return in 2017 to attempt to retain the trophy. In the event we entered two Wanderers teams ('Blues' and 'Oranges') and on Sunday we joined ten other 60+ sides from across the country to enjoy another day's competition.

The Wanderers 'Blues' squad:

John Myatt (c), John Jones, Chris Lund, John Rooke, Steve Stoker, Laurence Watkins, Mick Wilde.

The Wanderers 'Oranges' squad:

Niall O'Donnell (c), Ray Blackburn, Martin Burrell, David Holbrow, John McClelland, Mel Mitchell, Mike Thompson.

The Blues were all new to the competition, whilst the Oranges brought the same squad who had won the 2016 trophy.

In overcast conditions our convoy of cars made the 50 minute journey over the Pennines, arriving early to register (driving licences, a passport and even a couple of bus passes (!) used to confirm our 60+ status) and to warm up on the outside pitch, with a 7-a-side game using a size 5 football, not our usual size 4 Futsal ball. A very worthwhile exercise which had us all sweating but more confident with the set up.

The twelve teams split into two groups:

Division A consisted of Hartshill Strollers, Rochdale AFC Strollers, Tameside Striders, Vintage Celtic, Wakefield Wanderers Blue and Wakefield Wanderers Orange.

Division B consisted of AFC Blackpool Senior Seasiders, Blackburn Rovers WF, Fleetwood Town Flyers, Huddersfield Town, Rochdale Striders and Sheffield Vulcans.

Our two teams were in the same group and scheduled to play each other first off. This fifteen minute game proved to be a tough encounter, our familiarity of each other's play making for a closely fought match which was decided when a David Holbrow goal was deflected into the net by the unlucky Chris Lund. Both sides played some attractive football with John Myatt and Laurence Watkins prompting the Blues, but John McClelland and NOD were solid in defence for the Oranges.

The Blues then drew their next two games 0-0 with John Rooke replacing Mick Wilde and then they shared the striking role to no avail. They lost the next games 4-0 and 3-0 when they had to chase games. An unlucky own goal from John Jones, who was impressive at the back with Lund, was the sort of luck that the Blues suffered. Steve Stoker alternated in goal with Mick Wilde but the team struggled to score and Watkins was unfortunately carrying an Achilles injury and very much on the referees radar for running.

John Rooke, Mick Wilde and John Jones all showed some good touches while Steve Stoker kept the scores respectable with some fine saves.

After defeating the Blues in the first game, the Oranges went on to play some controlled and effective football with Martin Burrell relatively untroubled in goal. A string of victories followed with a 2-0 victory, with goals from Holbrow and Mike Thompson, a 3-0 victory with two from Holbrow and one from Thompson, and a further 2-0 victory with a couple from Mel Mitchell.

The final group game against Hartshill Strollers, the reigning National 60+ Champions, saw the Orange take a lead from a Holbrow goal, but then concede a late equaliser just as the game concluded.

Over the five matches played, the Oranges used a bespoke rotational system which gave each player an opportunity to rest. McClelland was in commanding form throughout and the team did not concede while he was on the field. Ray Blackburn displayed creativity and the whole team played with confidence and no little skill in the testing conditions of torrential rain, hail and gusting winds!.

As the Group games ended and the sides which were not to be involved in the semi finals happily made their escape from the very wet conditions, the Organisers sensibly assessed the deteriorating state of the pitches and decided that the semis and final would not be able to be played and that the team with the most points would take the title.

Wakefield Wanderers Orange topped Division A with 13 points from a possible 15. Runners up were Rochdale AFC Strollers with 8 points. Hartshill Strollers gained 7 points, Tameside Striders and Vintage Celtic had 4 points each and Wakefield Wanderers Blue had 2 points.

Division B ended with both Blackburn Rovers WF and Sheffield Vulcans gaining 11 points, Blackburn just edging it with a better goal difference of +7 to Sheffield’s +5. Huddersfield Town, with a bare squad of six players, had a creditable 10 points. AFC Blackpool Senior Seasiders had 4 points, Rochdale Striders also had 4 points and Fleetwood Town Flyers had 1 point.

Not quite the "Duckworth-Lewis Method", but this meant that the Wanderers Orange team retained the trophy. We have been invited back next year to go for the hat trick.

After the presentation of the trophy from Mrs Maureen Dawson, the Wanderers 'crew' returned to the welcome Yorkshire sunshine. We then proceeded to visit the Malt Shovel for a swift half (or two) - another successful day in the short history of Wakefield Walking Football Club!

Niall O'Donnell
Cub Reporter - Walking Football