Thames Walking Football

Thames 60s – Surrey League 21/8/26

The latest Surrey League round on Friday 21st August saw Ken W and John G faced with a depleted squad to choose from. Fortunately, they were able to draft in two very able replacements in Alan Z and Nad P. Great to see both pulling on a Thames shirt — and both fitted in seamlessly.

Godalming 1-2 Thames

Despite the challenges, Thames responded really well against the league leaders. An early lapse in concentration from Godalming was punished by Mark C, who opened the scoring.

As the offences mounted for both sides, a DOGSO and blue card for Thames added to the pressure. Godalming missed the resulting penalty, but another Thames offence and subsequent penalty brought them level.

With everything to play for, the Thames guys stuck to their task and were rewarded with a late penalty, calmly dispatched by Mark C to secure an excellent 2–1 victory. Great result and valuable ground gained on the league leaders.

Walton & Hersham 0–0 Thames

Next up were a fast-improving Walton & Hersham side. Unfortunately, stalemate ensued. Thames shaded possession and chances, but clear-cut opportunities were hard to come by, with both defences ultimately coming out on top.

Once again, Thames found themselves struggling with offences mounting up and were fortunate to walk the tightrope without conceding a late penalty.

Credit to Walton, who stuck at their task throughout and are now a pretty hard nut to crack. A somewhat frustrating end to the game following the excellent opening result.

Dorking 1–0 Thames

The final game was another closely fought encounter, with both teams playing some good football and creating chances. Ultimately, they cancelled each other out.

In the end, it came down to discipline and who could hold their nerve. Unfortunately, it was Thames who finally cracked, conceding a late penalty which Dorking converted to take the points.

A harsh result given how well Thames had played, but unfortunately indiscipline was a theme running through the afternoon.

All three games were well refereed and played in a great spirit.

👏 Well done to the whole team for some good, cohesive performances, and a special thank you to Alan Z and Nad P, who both slotted into the squad seamlessly, bringing great energy and no little skill.

Ken and John will be hoping to have a number of players available again for the next round on Friday 18th September.

⚽ Thames 60s — onwards and upwards!

Multi Age Surrey League 21/8/2026

The Thames multi age squad got back to winning ways in cooler conditions on the new W&H Excel pitch today.

Squad - Dave G, Mooro, Zac, Nad, Gary, Andrew, Simon and Mark.

Woking 1 Thames 4
Some fluid passing and one of the goals of the day from Mark saw Thames comfortably put Woking to the sword. A brace from Mark and Gary saw their previous partnership reignited. A good start to the day and debut for Gary.

Thames 0 The Blues 0
A very good match and evenly contested. Thames actually got the ball in the net but from an overhead bounce off the keeper, which the ref quickly canceled out.
Some excellent defending by Nad and Mooro largely nullified their attack. One of their few chances was brilliantly saved by Dave with a “Jim Montgomery 1973 cup final double style save” off the line to thwarted two striker attempts.

Our link up play through the midfield provided some real potency to the Thames attacking prowess. Only some great saves from The Blues keeper kept us out. Overall a draw seemed an equitable outcome against two strong teams.

Thames 2 Farnham 0
Thames sportingly reduced their team to five to match Farnham’s depleted team. Zac controlled the back line in a fairly one sided affair. Farnham conceded a penalty to Gary’s well executed corner placement. This was followed up by a wonder goal from Andrew turning his defender and producing a thunderbolt shot into the roof of the net in true Roy of the Rovers fashion! A comfortable win.

Thanks to all the squad for all their hard work and commitment today.

Everyone play their part today, although we need to work on stopping giving away needless running offences!!!

Overall, a good day at the office and onwards to the final two league games of the season.

Surrey League 20/8/26
Matchday 5 – Thames East O 65s
Penalties and a hard stare

The start of the final two games of Stage 1 of the season saw us in second place, Dorking and Godalming close behind. With injuries and holidays, we were a little short but Jacko joined us at the last minute.

First up - Thames West. We played well and Jeff kept us in the game with some fine saves. But our foul count rose quickly and eventually we conceded a penalty. To our amazement, Clarky slammed it against the bar. Still in it but finally undone from a corner when Clarky nipped in at great walking speed to slot the ball home. 0-1 it finished and our first loss of the season.

Zac dragged himself from the physio table after the first game – I just don’t think he could bear watching from the stands – to boost our squad.

Next up a tight game against a spirited Teddington team. We finally got the breakthrough for the goal of the day when slick passing from Jacko to Ken who crossed it across goal for JT to place into the net. Both goalkeepers made some fine saves, one in particular from BB. 1-0 it finished which left us in 3rd place after Stage 1of the season, one point behind Dorking.

And it was Dorking that we played next in the first game of Stage 2. Talk about a see-saw game! We quickly went 1-0 down. BB then had a goal disallowed which got him a little riled up and two minutes later he had equalized followed by a hard stare at the ref to dare him to disallow that one. Still in the first half and we went 2-1 up. Some great inter passing between Aus and BB for Aus to score (yes, you did read it right – BB passed!). However, the half was not over yet. On the stroke of half time, yet again our indiscipline led to a Dorking penalty which was put away – 2-2 at half time. Second half was tight again until Dorking went ahead. It looked as though it was all over. But the fat lady got a frog in her throat and immediately after the ho**er had sounded the ref blew for a fourth foul against Dorking. Up stepped JT and with ultimate coolness put the ball high into the net. 3-3 – time for a sit down!

Our final game of the day, it had to be, Thames West again. With tiredness setting in we were 0-2 down in the first five minutes to identical goals. Both times we were left two on one at the back and both times Nick slotted past Jeff. It left us with a mountain to climb. However, we stuck at it and BB scored with a great turn and shoot. 1-2 at HT. Once again our foul count mounted up and we conceded another penalty which Clarky again generously put wide. We were still in it until Clarky made up for his miss and we were 1-3 down into the last five minutes. BB hit the post but it wasn’t to be our day.

East played well on the day, some good defensive work and five goals scored. In the end it was probably our indiscipline that was the difference – too many fouls conceded and too many times trying to force the pass. However, we are still in third place just one point behind Dorking, so all to play for in the final games.

Congratulations to West for winning the Surrey O65 league. Great performance from an excellent team.

⚽ THAMES WEST 65s – SURREY LEAGUE UPDATE ⚽

Thames West 65s were back in Surrey League action on Thursday 20th August for the penultimate round of fixtures.

With holidays and injuries stretching the squad to the limit, emergency signing Larry Byrne was brought in to bolster the ranks. The final two regular-season games were against familiar rivals Thames East and old foes Godalming, before the league split for the final rounds.

🔵 THAMES EAST 0–1 THAMES WEST

Always going to be a cagey affair, with both teams knowing each other so well. After a missed penalty, Mark C settled the game with a clever finish from an accurate corner.

A good start!

🔵 GODALMING 1–2 THAMES WEST

Godalming started strongly, controlling the game and creating a number of chances. Dave G was excellent in keeping them at bay, but Godalming eventually took the lead with a clever finish.

Thames regrouped at half-time and came out fighting, taking the game to Godalming and creating several good chances.

Nigel R forced home the equaliser and, suddenly, Godalming looked shell-shocked. A few minutes later, Mark C produced another fine finish to complete a fantastic second-half turnaround.

🔵 GODALMING 1–1 THAMES WEST

With Thames West finishing top of the league, the split meant another meeting with Godalming.

This time Thames started quickly, playing some excellent football, with Mark C once again popping up with an important early goal.

Godalming equalised with a clever finish and the second half was very even. Dave G made some important saves, but a draw was ultimately a fair result.

🔵 THAMES EAST 1–3 THAMES WEST

Thames West continued their momentum and quickly took advantage of gaps appearing in the Thames East defence.

Nick F, returning from injury, produced two almost identical goals with some very cool finishing.

Thames East weren’t finished, though, and BB scored an excellent trademark goal to give them hope.

Thames then missed a penalty, setting up a nervy finish, but Mark C once again popped up with an important goal to secure the points.

🏆 10 POINTS FROM 12!

A fantastic day’s work from the team, taking 10 points from a possible 12.

Even more impressive was the discipline shown throughout the four games — not a single penalty conceded! 👏

Special mentions to:

⭐ Dave G – excellent all day, particularly against Godalming in the first game when we were under serious pressure.

⭐ Nick F – a great return from injury, with two very important goals.

⭐ Larry B – slotted seamlessly into the team, exactly as we knew he would.

With Thames West sitting proudly at the top of the league, the title is now ours to lose.

One final round remains on Thursday 24th September.

🏆 COME ON THAMES WEST! 🔵⚽

Well done to our Thames ladies who took part in this amazing tournament this weekend and coming home with the 🏆

Bilbao June 2026 🏆

Getxo International Walking Football Tournament
Bilbao, Spain – 20–21 June 2026

Thames Walking Football Club proudly entered both the 50s and 60s teams into the prestigious IV Getxo International Walking Football Tournament in Bilbao. With temperatures soaring into the 90s (°F) across the two-day competition, the challenge was as much about endurance as football.
With only seven players available in each squad and every match lasting 30 minutes, every member of both teams was called upon to give everything. They certainly did.

Thames 60s Squad
* Bill Billingham (Goalkeeper)
* Zac Philipps (Defender)
* Nigel Rutter (Attacker)
* Kevin Canning (Midfielder)
* Brian Boughey (Attacker)
* Graham Smith (Midfielder)
* Helen Stevens (Midfielder)

Thames 50s Squad
* Ken Guiste (Goalkeeper)
* Andrew Cordery (Attacker)
* Pete Bickell (Midfielder)
* Roger Jones (Midfielder)
* Anthony Shillingford (Attacker)
* Nick Fry (Midfielder)
* Mary Mannion (Defender)

DAY ONE
Thames 50s
Thames 50s faced four strong sides from Spain, France, Lanzarote and the Basque Country. With one of the oldest squads in the competition, Thames found themselves up against younger opponents but never once allowed that to affect their commitment or spirit.
Despite suffering four defeats, the scorelines did not reflect the effort and quality shown throughout. Anthony Shillingford led the attack superbly, scoring twice, while Andrew Cordery and Roger Jones each found the net to reward some excellent team football.
Ken Guiste produced a series of important saves, Mary Mannion defended courageously against relentless attacks, while Pete Bickell and Nick Fry covered enormous distances in midfield, ensuring Thames remained competitive in every match. Every player represented the club with pride, determination and resilience in extremely demanding conditions.

Thames 60s
- The opening match against Italian side Maranello started poorly. Before Thames had settled, they found themselves 3-1 down, with Brian Boughey scoring the only first-half goal, a nice assist pass on the inside from Graham.
Following an honest half-time discussion, the team emerged transformed. Bill Billingham provided calmness from the back, Zac Philipps marshalled the defence superbly, while Kevin Canning and Helen Stevens took control of midfield. Kevin supplied two assists straight up the middle of the pitch as Nigel Rutter struck twice in quick succession to complete a remarkable comeback and secure a deserved 3-3 draw.
- The second match against Lanzarote was another closely contested affair. Brian Boughey fired Thames into the lead after excellent work from Kevin Canning, while Helen Stevens and Graham Smith worked tirelessly in midfield to restrict the opposition. Heartbreak followed as Lanzarote equalised with virtually the last kick of the game for a 1-1 draw.
- The final match of the day saw Thames face tournament favourites and hosts, Walking Lions of the Basque Country.
It proved to be one of the performances of the tournament. Zac Philipps organised the defence brilliantly alongside Bill Billingham, while Helen Stevens produced another outstanding display against physically strong opponents. Brian Boughey opened the scoring following yet another excellent assist from Kevin Canning. Walking Lions equalised with ten minutes remaining, but Thames refused to settle. After the hosts committed their fifth foul, Nigel Rutter confidently converted the resulting penalty to secure a memorable 2-1 victory.

At the end of Day One, Thames sat on five points. The leaders had nine points, but Thames still had a game in hand. Everything to play for.

DAY TWO
Thames 50s
Thames 50s had two matches remaining.
The first ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat after another disciplined and spirited team performance. In the final match, Thames lost 3-1, with Andrew Cordery scoring the team's only goal.
While results did not fall their way, the commitment shown by every player was outstanding. Ken Guiste remained dependable between the posts, Anthony Shillingford continued to threaten in attack, Roger Jones and Nick Fry never stopped working in midfield, and Pete Bickell led by example throughout. Special praise must go to Mary Mannion, whose courage, determination and quality saw her match every opponent she faced across the entire tournament. Her performances were simply exceptional.

Thames 60s
Thames 60s began Day Two on five points, knowing they needed a near-perfect finish.
- Their first opponents were the highly organised Hispalis side from Seville.
This proved to be Thames' finest performance of the tournament. Bill Billingham was assured whenever called upon, Zac Philipps dominated defensively, while Kevin Canning, Graham Smith and Helen Stevens controlled possession throughout midfield. Brian Boughey calmly converted a penalty before Nigel Rutter produced a superb swivel and finish to complete a fully deserved 2-0 victory.
That result moved Thames onto eight points, just one behind the leaders, Walking Lions.
- The next opponents were French side All Star ST P. Unfortunately, Nigel Rutter was ruled out through injury, but the squad adapted magnificently.
Pete Bickell stepped up to a more advanced role, calmly converting a penalty after the five foul rule. Soon after Kevin Canning threading an excellent pass through for Brian Boughey to double the advantage. The French side reduced the deficit, but Zac Philipps crowned another outstanding defensive display by scoring Thames' third goal to seal a deserved 3-1 victory.
Thames now had 11 points, with Walking Lions leading on 12. One match remained for both teams.
- The final match was against defending champions Sweden Vikings, while Walking Lions played All Star ST P simultaneously.
Thames immediately took control, patiently dictating possession. Brian Boughey turned brilliantly just outside the area before finishing confidently following excellent assist from Pete Bickell to give Thames a 1-0 half-time lead. News filtered through that Walking Lions were leading 1-0, meaning they still held a one-point advantage. The second half followed a similar pattern, with Bill Billingham making an important save when required and Zac Philipps keeping the defence organised. Graham Smith and Helen Stevens continued to work tirelessly in midfield, while Kevin Canning controlled the tempo of the game. Against the run of play, Sweden Vikings equalised with just five minutes remaining. The title appeared to be slipping away. Thames refused to give in. With only minutes remaining, Kevin Canning drove purposefully through midfield before finding Brian Boughey, who produced a superb half-turn before emphatically firing home the winner. Seconds later the final whistle blew. As the team left the pitch, news arrived that Walking Lions had conceded a late equaliser and drawn 1-1.
Final Standings
1. Thames Over-60s – 14 points
2. Walking Lions – 13 points
🏆 Thames are Champions!🏆

Thames Walking Football Club were crowned IV Getxo International Walking Football Tournament Champions 2026, finishing as the only unbeaten team across the entire two-day competition. Brian Boughey and Nigel Rutter provided crucial goals throughout the tournament, Kevin Canning was instrumental with his creativity, assists and leadership, Zac Philipps delivered immense performances in defence and even added an important goal, while Bill Billingham gave confidence and security from the back. Graham Smith and Helen Stevens worked tirelessly in midfield, setting the platform for the team's success.
Helen Stevens deserves special recognition. Across all six matches she matched every opponent physically while producing one outstanding performance after another. She was a credit to herself and to Thames Walking Football Club.
Thames 50s may not have achieved the results they hoped for, but Ken Guiste, Andrew Cordery, Pete Bickell, Roger Jones, Anthony Shillingford, Nick Fry and Mary Mannion embodied everything Thames Walking Football stands for. Their effort, resilience and team spirit contributed enormously to what became an unforgettable tournament for the whole club.

This trophy 🏆 belongs to everyone.
Both squads supported one another throughout the weekend, never complained, embraced every challenge, followed the guidance of the team leaders and represented Thames Walking Football Club with pride, passion and professionalism.
You showed the hosts and every team present exactly what Thames Walking Football Club is all about.
Congratulations to every player.
These are memories that will last a lifetime.

Thames 60’s crowned 🏆
IV Getxo International Walking Football Tournament Champions 2026

Kevin Canning
Tour Leader
Walking Lions FC

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