Football, friendship and Madeiran hospitality
Winchester Walking Football enjoyed a successful tour of Madeira, with two days of football, plenty of sightseeing and a warm welcome from our hosts, Inter Madeira.
At the heart of the visit was our hosts’ emphasis on playing the game in the right spirit: enjoying the football, respecting one another and bringing people together. That approach set the tone for a memorable trip.
On the first day, Winchester players were mixed with their hosts to form four teams, with two or three Winchester players in each. It was a great way to get to know one another — although remembering who was on your team occasionally proved a challenge!
There were some memorable performances, recognised in our entirely unofficial awards:
Outstanding player: Paul Wiseman, who scored a hat-trick in one match.
Goal hanger of the day: Also Paul Wiseman. The awards committee clearly spotted a connection.
Shot of the day: Chris Haynes, whose effort cleared the fencing and reportedly came down with snow on it and a satellite attached.
Pass of the day: PR7’s magnificent assist to Chris Haynes. A minor technicality: they were on different teams.
Dive of the day: Graham Newland. We’ll leave that one to the imagination.
After a thoroughly enjoyable morning, the players shared food and drinks with Kate, Phill and the Inter Madeira team — a chance to continue the conversations and revisit a few of those highlights.
The second day was equally successful. Although billed as a tournament, our hosts made clear that the emphasis was on playing in the true spirit of walking football. Friendship, fair play and enjoyment were central to the occasion.
Inter Madeira rounded off the games with an amazing barbecue, providing another generous helping of the hospitality that made the tour so special.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Kate, Phill and everyone at Inter Madeira for welcoming us so warmly and showing what walking football can bring to people, both on and off the pitch.
We were also proud to fly the flag for our sponsor, Winchester Mobility, and thank them for their continued support.
A wonderful trip, new friendships and plenty of stories to bring home. We’re still awaiting clearance for Chris’s ball to re-enter the atmosphere.
The full touring party consisted of David Kirby (Club captain), Paul Reade, Sue Hume, Paul Wiseman, John Kane, Chris Haynes, Graham Newland, Phil Courtney, Patrick Murphy & David Clegg
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