Farnham Town Flares’ over-50s and over-60s walking football teams have delivered strong performances in a variety of competitions.
The Flares have showcased their attacking flair, solid defence and a knack for bouncing back from setbacks across the Thames Valley Walking Football League, Hampshire FA tournament and Surrey League Cup.
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In the second round of the Thames Valley Walking Football League, Farnham Town Flares' over-50s team showed why they are top of the league.
The day began with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Watford, where they dominated but couldn’t find the breakthrough.
The Flares then secured a 2-0 win over Maidenhead, with Mark Berezicki and John Woodcock getting on the scoresheet.
A narrow 1-0 defeat against Woodley followed, but the Flares bounced back in style with a 2-0 win over Reading. Defender Lee Randall produced a moment of brilliance with a looping shot, and Mark Clark finished the job late on.
The Flares capped off the day with a 1-0 victory over Wycombe, thanks to a goalkeeping error that allowed Clark to net his second of the day. Although he missed a penalty later on, the defence held firm to ensure the win.
Manager Gary Humphrey was full of praise. He said: “The lads were excellent.
“We created a lot of chances and showed real determination. The defence was solid.
“I'm proud of the way we handled ourselves, especially in the tougher games.”
Farnham Town Flares’ over-60s team took part in the Hampshire FA tournament in Winklebury in Basingstoke, where they emerged victorious in four of their five matches.
Steve Probert was the standout player, scoring five goals across the day. The team opened with a 2-0 win over Tadley, and despite a 2-0 loss against Cove, they regained their form with a 3-0 win against Winchester, a 1-0 victory over the second Cove team and a 1-0 win against Gosport.
Goalkeeper Alan Church was instrumental in keeping a clean sheet against Winchester, making several key saves.
Skipper Chris Peers said: “The lads really showed up, especially Alan in goal.
“Steve was fantastic up front, and it was a great all-round team effort to secure four wins.”
In the Surrey League Cup, Farnham’s over-50s team delivered a strong showing, finishing third out of six teams.
Despite a narrow 1-0 loss against Chelsea in their opening game, the Flares bounced back with 1-0 victories against Dorking and Walton, with Mark Clark showing his eye for goal.
The highlight of the day was a commanding 2-0 win over local rivals Godalming. Gary Humphrey slotted home a penalty, and Clark added another goal to his impressive tally.
The Flares’ cup run ended with a 3-0 defeat to Thames, despite Tony Fairclough producing a fine performance in goal.
Andy Cundy, from the Flares, said: “It was a tough day, but we showed great resilience.
“Tony was fantastic in goal, and Mark’s goals kept us in the fight.”
Farnham Town Flares have started their Cove League campaign strongly.
They have played four matches, beginning with a 1-1 draw against Retro Rangers from Aldershot, where Gary Humphrey netted the equaliser.
The second game was a convincing 2-0 win over Cove Green, with Humphrey and Mark Clark on target.
In a thrilling 2-2 draw against Cove Yellow, Humphrey struck twice. The day ended with a tight 3-2 victory over Bracknell, with Clark bagging an impressive hat-trick. Bracknell threatened a comeback with two late goals, but Farnham held on for the win.
Chris Allen, from Farnham Town Flares, said: “It’s been a great start to the league. Plenty of goals, some tense moments, but we're off to a strong start with a lot of games ahead.”
Farnham Town Flares have over-50s, over-60s and multi-age teams competing in leagues and cup competitions. The club also competes in tournaments and friendly games.
Although walking football is aimed at people over the age of 50, Farnham Town Flares also welcome players who are below this age and would like to continue playing. Training is held weekly throughout the year.
For more information, visit the Farnham Town Flares page on Farnham Town Football Club’s website at www.ftfconline.com/farnham-town-walkers for further details.