Stamford Strollers win the 2022 ASHA Healthcare Midlands Over 65s League for a second successive season

Stamford Strollers’ 65+ side have been crowned Midlands League walking football champions again.

They completed their fixtures in the 2022 ASHA Healthcare Midlands Over 65s League season on Tuesday with two games against the second and third-placed teams at the start of play - Alfreton and Nottingham Bramcote.

Two wins from those two games meant that the team not only won the league title, but also achieved a 100 per cent win record for the second season in succession.

In the first game against Alfreton, Strollers got off to a relatively slow start in a match that was peppered with a series of ‘running’ offences from the opposing team.

The stop-start nature of the game initially hampered Strollers’ usual quick passing and movement game.

However, Strollers eventually broke the deadlock late in the first half with a good strike from Will Barrett which gave them a 1-0 half-time lead.

In the second period, Strollers managed to gain greater control and played some fine football, resulting in a further four goals from Bob Wood, John Hutchins and Chris Keirl (two) for a 5-0 victory.

The second game against Nottingham Bramcote was a much closer contest with Strollers goalkeeper Bill Whittle having an outstanding game.

A well-worked first half free kick created an opening for Nic Poletti to score to give Strollers a 1-0 half-time lead.

The second half was a very even affair but, even though Strollers were reduced to five men due to a blue card at one stage, they stood firm to see the game out.

This was a superb achievement from Strollers’ 65+ squad who cemented their position as one of the top teams in the region with their second Midlands League title in successive seasons.