A husband and wife were presented with Good Citizen awards for setting up and running an over 50’s walking football club.

Steve and Alison Payne, from Bicester, received the awards at the town’s mayor making event for “commitment in setting up and running Bicester Fossils Walking Football Club and developing it into the great phenomenon and success it is today”.

Mr Payne said: "We’re both very proud. It was a great moment for us.”

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Bicester Fossils successfully launched an over 40’s women’s team last summer, which has steadily progressed and now sees 20 ladies regularly attending training sessions at Whitelands Farm Sports Ground.

The women’s team played their first ever games a couple of weeks ago, entertaining teams from Coleshill.

The first game was played by some of the more experienced female players, and the Bicester Fossils team ended up winning 5-2 with Anita Matthew scoring a hat trick, and Donna Savin and Jayne Broome also scoring.

The second game was made up of women who were less experienced players, some of whom had never kicked a football.

Mr Payne said: “It was a great learning curve for all the ladies. It bodes well for the Bicester Fossils ladies walking football team in the future.

“Any ladies over 40 wishing to give walking football a try, please feel free to come along to Whitelands every Friday from 7pm.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1