Bury Relics Over 65’s went into their first set of fixtures of the Greater Manchester Division 1 Walking Football 2026 league campaign with a squad of 8: Eddy (GK), Kev Amos, Keith Swain, Alan, Dave Luk, Tony G, Kev Bates and Andy. Ken Bug was Manager and supporters in attendance were Keiran, Nev and Kenbo on a glorious spring day.
First up were Winstanley with Kev B and Keith starting on the bench. This was a very evenly contested game with chances at a minimum. Winstanley had the first (and their only) chance when a strong shot was saved by Eddy’s legs. We quickly replied when Kev A sent Andy through on the half way line, he expertly kept himself in front of the centre half and dummied the goalie onto the floor, unfortunately his chip shot wasn’t quite high enough and the keeper clawed it down into his midriff. 2 very strong defensive units then dominated until just before the end when Andy slipped Dave in who narrowly put it past the post. A deserved 0-0 draw for both teams.
Next up were Burnley with Kev A and Andy starting on the bench. This was a far more open game with both teams having 4 good chances each. All the Clarets efforts came from their wee striker, memorably named Sonny as by this time the sun was so strong that their keeper had donned his flat cap. He had one hell of a shot on him and Eddy had the game of his life keeping him out and his hands were stinging by the end. We had 4 well created opportunities. Firstly, a passing sequence involving the whole team with Tony laying it off to Dave who came off the right wing to curl it low and hard into the far corner but the keeper made an excellent low diving save to put it round the post. Secondly, Keith set up Dave who blasted it goalwards but the goalie got his body behind it. Thirdly, Keith threaded the ball across to Kev B who was one on one with the keeper, he went for the quick low toe bunger but the keeper deflected it out for a corner with his foot. Lastly, Kev B had another good shot that the keeper turned round for a corner. An excellent, entertaining 0-0 draw.
Our third game of the season was against Blackpool with Kev B and Tony on the bench. Both teams were as poor as each other with wayward passing, miscontrol and weak shots. We only had 2 shots, both off target from Alan, and the game was so low in intensity that it was more interesting watching Kenbo stood with his hands in his pockets and his eyes glazing over than the match. The game was perfectly summed up by one incident near the end. Dave was barged in the back on the halfway line, the whistle blew, and the Relics moved forward. After a quick VAR check, Visually Abysmal Refereeing, the players realised that the foul had actually been awarded to the Tangerines. Their striker, who hadn’t been bothered to track back, was left all alone in oceans of space in our half but in the rush to set him up quickly the free kick was booted far too hard past his outstretched leg and went out of play for a goal kick! A 0-0 bore draw.
Following that showing Game 4 looked challenging against reigning champions Wakefield with Andy and Alan on the bench. However, we came out strongly and matched them for possession and shots with Eddy making some good saves. We had got past the midway point and they were just starting to get frustrated when a lovely intricate move set up a free shot from the edge of the D, it was struck beautifully and whizzed past Eddy who didn’t see it until it bounced out from the stanchion. There had been a battle royale going on between the Two Tony’s with our own Tony G keeping Tony B quieter than usual but some brilliant footwork on the line of the D by Tony B gave him the chance to get a quickfire shot off which Eddy got a hand to but some side spin just took it over the line. It was heartbreaking to lose 2 goals in quick succession after so much good work beforehand but the players did not let their heads drop and the kept fighting on. Just before the final whistle Tony strode forward and slipped it out to Keith who hammered it against the inside of the post and it shot across the face of the goal but never crossed the line. A hard fought 2-0 loss.
Our fifth and final game was against Corinthians with Dave and Kev B on the bench. Two tired teams cancelled each other out. The deadlock was broken when they intercepted a pass in our half and the player struck a crosshot which went in off the post. We nearly equalised late on with an Andy shot but the keeper pulled off a good save. An unlucky 1-0 loss.
A slow start which was similar to most of the other teams. We were competitive in all the games with our only deserved defeat to Wakefield who won 4 and drew 1 on the day so we are in the mix.
Bury Relics 