Weather With You*

St Helens Walking Football
1 day ago
7 min read

May 2026 has recorded some amazing moments including; a guard of honour at Selhurst Park for the PGMOL team acknowledged for their huge contribution to this season’s Premier League campaign

Punditry reached crisis point with Carragher, Neville and co widely hated by anyone with a passing interest in football

UK’s recent track record in Eurovision was restored with just one vote in this year’s contest

Set Piece FC failed to bottle this season’s yawnfest no mean feat

A SHWFC Ruskin session bombarded with hail stones one week and enforced rehydration breaks a week later as play was attempted in 30+ degree heat

This Blog marks the merry month with two for the price of er none Apologies for any confusion but even Banana Republic hierarchy need a little R&R once in a while

A Rainford Rendering or It’s A Pleasure*

Those readers who can recall last week’s blog from SHWFC (I know, difficult isn’t it?) may remember that one incident had to be flagged up after some over-enthusiastic tackling from behind led to ‘scenes’.

But, for those of us who know SHWFC well, these things are usually done in the heat of the moment and – whilst they need flagging up and stern words – they are not, by any means, the norm. And to illustrate that, I invite you all to dive into this latest blog where a theme of pleasure and enjoyment of the noble sport of walking football takes pride of place.

At Ruskin on Monday 36 players tuned up, plus 2 refs: everyone nervously looking at the increasingly threatening skies. And that caution was very necessary because for the last 15 minutes or so the aforementioned 36 players and 2 refs (plus onlookers) were first soaked and then pelted mercilessly with some very hard hailstones. This is supposed to be May for Gawd’s’ sake!

Anyway, enough of the weather report. Those 36 were divided by Andy Manager into teams as follows:-

Black - Phil the Cat, Ricky, McSpeed, Sheila, Colin & Chris K

Blue - Mike Tomo, Stevan, Dave R, Barry Whizz, Little John & Lefty Bridge

Green - Tom Stretch, John Hill, Mags, Brian, Eamon & Phil the Power

Purple - Lord Rainford, Anita, Tony, Aldo, Ashy & Triallist

Red - Wickie, Jan, Gonzalo, Paul, Enoch & Steve J

Yellow - Snakehips, GRAV, Brian, Barry Whizz, Haggis & Andy Manager

On Pitch 1, where Charlie took charge of refereeing responsibilities; Purple excelled themselves by neutering the Red’s main goal threat of Gonzalo with a real team effort of covering, marking and quick passing. They were able to break out of their low block enough times to find a lot of space and ran out 3-1 winners, Aldo (2) and Tony scoring with Gonzalo still managing to get at least 1 goal, 3-1. Sadly, that supreme effort meant Purple had shot their bolt for their 2nd game when they faced a very strong Black team who ran out 4-0 winners with both Colin and McSpeed getting two goals. (‘ran out’ figuratively naturally)

Black had started on Pitch B where in a high scoring game they narrowly beat Green 7-5. Referee Jeff Betty reports that this was a game played in good spirit with Black racing into a 2 nil lead only for Green to come back at them and go 3-2 up Margaret finally getting the goal she deserved after having a great game Phil the Power hit one of his trade mark shots to put him on the score sheet. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough and Black took the honours scoring 5 more goals.

Black 7 Colin (2) Mike (2) Chris (1) Phil the Cat (2)

Green 5 Eamon (2) Roy, Phil the Power and Margaret

In the 2nd game on Pitch 2 Red was able to find the goal touch that had deserted them against Purple and emerged 7-3 winners against Green. Red scorers were Steve (2) Wickie (1) Paul (1) Gonzalo (3) with Eamon getting another 2 for Green and Brian also scoring. Red’s dominance was thanks to Gonzalo receiving some well measured passes from Wickie and Steve who both, (along with Paul) contributed to Gonzalo’s tally. Green battled well but couldn’t quite get enough possession to create an impact on the game

Over on Pitch 3 there was no official Ref but with Andy Manager playing everyone was minding their P’s and Q’s (or at least their tackling from behind....). And, as Andy reported afterwards, the game was played in a fantastic spirit, with all 12 players contributing to an excellent match. Although it finished 5-5 it could have finished 10-10 but for some excellent keeping, particularly Rob for Blues.

Scorers were Ian ‘Lefty’ Bridge (3) and Mike Tomo (2) for Blue with Barry Whizz (2), Andy (2) and GRAV for Yellow

At Ruskin on Wednesday there was a complete goal-fest with both games finishing 10-8. Line ups were:-

Black - Little John, PJ, Eamon, Simon, Joe & Darron

Orange - Chris 4G, Mike Tomo, Jason, Chris P, Steve C & GRAV

Red - Ian, Andy, Tom Stretch, Jeff Betty, Doug & Mark D

Yellow - Deano, Colin, Haggis, Honeyman, Ian H & Lewis

Jeff Betty did some of his now legendary multitasking both reffing and playing in the Yellow v Red game, as well as having to take emergency phone calls! Red ended as the 10-8 winners, having led 5-4 at the interval.

Yellow scorers were Lewis(2) Deano (2) Steve (1) Ian (2) Haggis (1)

Red scorers in reply Ian (5) Mark (2) Doug (2) Tom(1)

Considering the Red team were a-man down for a large part of the first half they did very well to lead at half time. The Yellow team who had taken a-two goal lead with fine goals from Lewis and Deano let Reds back into the game and even with two further goals from Ian they couldn’t quite keep the Red threat at bay with Ian Mark and Tom linking up well and some neat finishing

In the second half Red went further ahead Ian and Doug on target before Yellow came back at them with Ian scoring a couple and then Haggis with a beautifully placed shot giving Tom in goal no chance. This closed the deficit to within 2 goals before Ian was unfortunate to put one past his own keeper leaving Red to finish off with a good win. It was a great game well played in good spirit by everyone a pleasure to take part in

And finally, Phil the Power had a similar positive report from the game he reffed as Black narrowly beat Orange 10 - 8

Blacks scorers were Joe, Darren 2, Eamon 4, Simon Pete x 2.

Orange replied with Chris P getting 5 with Mike Thomo, Steve C plus an own goal making up their 8.

A good game played in great spirit - our referee writes.

Sheree Brown – It’s A Pleasure*

Meanwhile for those readers who are still awake we have a Presedential Press briefing

Tuesday’s Ruskin Sports Village burn-a-thon was a more modest assembly but two pitches produced some fine football between the enforced water breaks and half time show* (idea stolen by FIFA for their American nightmare event)

The teams selected were;

Blue - Colin, GRAV, Beach Boy, Tom Stretch, Snakehips and Anita

Old Gold - Dave Robo, Les Meldrew, Kerry excellent debut, Enoch, Andy Man & Les H

Red - PaulF, Honeyman, Mike Bates, McSpeed, Wickie, Ian Connor and Phil the Power

Green - Phil the Cat, Chris 10P, Citeh Geoff, Cockney Rebel, Ashy, John Hill & Triallist

Charlie took charge of the Blue v Old Gold fixture with the outcome a fairly satisfactory 4-1 victory for the Old Goldsters Kerry marked her debut with a smart finish Goals by the Les Messrs Meldrew and Hewitt plus a Andy Man special boosted the Gold standard It was left to Beach Boy Brian Wilson to ride the wave for Blue’s solitary reply

El Presidente led the rehydration scheduled match up with Green and Red satisfying their collective thirsts in an excellent match that ended as a very entertaining 3-3 draw

Red took a Hare-like 2 goal lead thanks to McSpeed (penalty) and Honeyman drilled effort

Chris 10P scored to keep Green in the hunt before Mike Bates restored the advantage at 3-1 Phil the Cat fired Green ever-closer before a freak football accident involving Rebel and Bates led to both sustaining minor injuries (easy for you to say)

Chris 10P Prout had the last word punishing a piece of goalkeeping madness from the spot with an equaliser in the last minute of a pulsating game 3-3 the final score We’ve included a photo of the Green kit drying in record time on Ashby’s line, it was that sort of day Scorchio!

Just over 30 hours later the troops returned to action with 2 games on the Sutton SoccerDome Sahara Dry, sandy conditions to suit the weather

The teams under the microscope were;

Pink - Little John, Mike Thomo, Chris 4G, Jason & Steve Smith

Lime - GRAV, Gaz, Midweek Michelle, Tom Stretch, Haggis & Doug

White(ish) - Meldrew, PJ, Ian Harding, Citeh Geoff & Joe the Ghost

Yellow - Eamon, Lord Rainford, Andy Man, Darron & Simon

Cockney Rebel refereed due in no small measure to the injury to his toes suffered 30 hours earlier His game featured a slightly unbalanced 7 v 6 a side contest that produced some excellent passing, chances and goals For the record Pink claimed a 6-3 win Lime always in the contest but failing to convert their opportunities

Goals by Mike Thomo 3, Jason 2 and Steve steered Pink to the Winners Enclosure

Lime did score thanks to Gaz, Doug and Tom but failure to convert from the spot kick summed up a frustrating night At least St Mirren survived (you’re welcome!)

El Presidente took charge of the Yellow v White(ish) match on the adjacent pitch, an epic end to end game with inevitably fine passages of play Eamon broke the eabrly deadlock with a good finish 1-0 Yellow in front White responded with two from Ian Harding (his second a borderline burst onto the ball to fire home) PJ added a White third and the tide had turned 3-1 White now in control Eamon notched his second to restore Yellow in the contest In truth both sides were passing with pace and accuracy Simon & Lord Rainford for Yellow PJ, Citeh Geoff for White great to watch in this phase of the match

Eamon scored for 3-2 Before Harding scored his hat trick goal 4-2 and some breathing space Lord Rainford found space to fire home his fabled Sussex Sweep for 4-3 before a medical emergency with his diabetes monitor took him out of action for a brief interval Sportingly Whites withdrew a player to rebalance their numerical advantage

Happily M’Lord re-entered the match to enjoy a purple patch of form and eventually his second goal of the night Unfortunately White had the unplayable Harding on fire adding his 4th and White’s 5th to spoil the Lazarus interlude The final goal by the industrious J the Ghost sealed the White victory 6-4 an absolute classic game

On a sultry evening the pitches were fast and slippy but the football now that is the real story