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The Rangers Charity Foundation, alongside Rangers Football Club, was proud to attend the Unity is Strength event at the AXA Training Centre in Liverpool last week.

Organised by the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance in partnership with the Liverpool FC Foundation, the event welcomed Walking Football teams from across the UK for a special tournament. Among those taking part was a team made up of regular participants from the Foundation’s Walking Football programme.

Our mixed squad travelled from Ibrox on Sunday morning alongside coaches, Rangers FC staff, fan representatives and former Rangers defender and Club Ambassador, John ‘Bomber’ Brown. Family members of those impacted by the Ibrox disaster also travelled with the squad.

The day celebrated football’s ability to bring people together while remembering those affected by past football tragedies and promoting unity, respect and understanding throughout the game.

Proceedings began with an opening welcome before participants took part in an educational session designed to increase awareness of football-related tragedies and encourage solidarity between clubs, supporters and communities. The session also provided an opportunity for attendees to meet, reflect and share experiences before the football got underway.

The Rangers side produced an excellent series of performances throughout the day, reaching the final and finishing as runners up in the tournament.

Foundation Walking Football participant Claire said:

“It was a terrific day balanced well with a well-structured tournament and an informative anti-tragedy session. The football was played in good spirits with camaraderie between teams whilst the session taught us about how footballing tragedies impact the whole community. I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt very proud to be part of a special event.”

“It was a really enjoyable tournament, everything ran perfectly and it made for a really incredible experience. I genuinely loved everything about it, the games were competitive but fun, the park was super, the players were all lovely. It just had a really good atmosphere start to finish.”

Walking Football is an increasingly popular, non-contact format of the game, allowing people to continue playing football in a safer, lower-impact environment while improving their fitness, wellbeing and social connections.

The Foundation’s free Walking Football programme is open to anyone aged 50 and over and provides a welcoming environment where participants can stay active, meet new people and enjoy being part of a team.

Sessions are held at the Ibrox Community Complex, 80 Hinshelwood Drive, Glasgow, G51 2XD, every Thursday at 11am. Please note that the programme is currently on its summer break and will resume during the final week of August.

For more information, visit the Foundation’s website or email rangerscharity@rangers.co.uk.