Over 50s Football Festival was a huge success!
Oxfordshire FA teamed up with the Oxfordshire Over 50s Premier League to deliver an Over 50s 6-a-side Football Festival on Sunday 17th June 2018.
The event saw over 65 players of varying experience and ability participate in round robin matches throughout the day. The festival was delivered to help raise awareness of Over 50s football with an aim of supporting the recruitment of new players for teams that participate in the Oxfordshire Over 50s Premier League.
Michael Thurlow, Football Development Manager at Oxfordshire FA said “It was brilliant to see so many involved especially as the festival encouraged a number of individuals to play for the first time in over 20 years. We hope the festival has encouraged more people to take the game up again and participate socially or in the county’s Over 50s League”.
The Oxfordshire Over 50s Premier League was one of its kind when it was founded in 2013 by a group of friends who wanted to continue to play competitive football on a regular basis.
What started out as just a handful of teams competing against each other for fun, has now turned into a fully affiliated football league, with seven teams due to participate in a full weekly fixture programme of competitive 11-a-side matches in 2018-19.
Nick Brown, from the Over 50s League said “it was a very enjoyable day and we hope the festival will support us grow the league further in the future”
The league is officiated by FA qualified Referees and allows rolling subs and a maximum of three players per team aged between 45-50 to play in matches. The reduced game time of 80 minutes means that the league have found a format that allows those Over 50’s to play the game they love on a regular basis.
If you are 45 years+ and you are interested in getting your boots back on please get in touch with Michael Thurlow via Development@Oxfordshirefa.com or 01993 894407