The Woodley Pensioners over 60s team kicked off for their new campaign in the Thames Valley Walking Football League last Sunday.
Following a very successful previous season, in which the Pensioners team only lost one game, they achieved promotion to Division One.
Playing at Bisham Abbey on the anniversary of the Battle of Stamford Bridge (1066) the team needed to step up to this greater challenge and find ways to penetrate the opposition defences.
They fought hard to establish themselves and, in spite of scoring four goals in their five matches, their own defence was breached eight times resulting in a win, a draw, and three defeats.
Only time and further matches will reveal whether this is a bridge too far, but the strong team spirit persists, and they will certainly continue to strive to avoid being walked over.
For the first time the club entered a B team who started their campaign in the second division on the same day.
Results did not go their way either with just a couple of draws to soften the blow of three defeats.
As with the A team, the players will battle on and hope to step up to the mark to improve on this undeniably pedestrian start in their future engagements.
By Steve Bond
