50s: A Tale of Two Teams

The start of the 2024/25 Dorset FA Walking Football Season was disappointing for the Dexter Sports 50s teams. Despite doubling the chances to win matches, DSWFC50 managed to avoid marking their results card with any W’s!

Between the two teams, Storm and Thunder, just two draws were achieved from eight matches. However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom and there were some mitigating circumstances.

Tournament results

The tournament was played at Avenue Stadium, the home of Dorchester Town on 13 October 2024 – it started at 4pm. The weather was overcast, and became really quite chilly when it got dark – the last kick-off was half-past-six.

Finding the positives

OK, so how are we extracting positives from two draws, six defeats and no goals scored?

• New rules: While it’s true all the teams were experiencing new rules for 2024/25, as a club, DSWFC had spoken seriously about abiding by them as best we could, especially the clamp-down on not-walking. However, as the tournament progressed it seemed not all teams were as committed to not-walking as we were.
  Inevitably, this was to our detriment. However, one of the refs in attendance did give some pleasing feedback, stating that Dexters player’s behaviour made it the most pleasurable tournament he’d ever handled. So that was nice, but worth squat when it comes to the league table!
• Reduced subs: Although pre-tournament the expectation was we’d have four substitutes, on the day we only had two. Clearly it reduces the tactical options available and giving players a rest when needed – both of which can have a significant impact on how matches pan out.
  With more bench options, a greater number tactical choices can be made as well as introducing fresh legs at key moments.
• Noobs: One of DSWFC’s successes since last season has been the acquisition of new, quality players into the squad. However, so many new faces experiencing a walking football tournament for the first time brings its own issues – this is a factor which particularly affected Dexters Thunder.
  We’re convinced those players will blossom into accomplished walking footballers as the season rolls on.

Obviously with these results both Dexter’s teams are towards the bottom of the early Dorset Walking Football 50s league table.

This week, it’s a case of Managers Massive Meandering Missive!

Don’t judge a book… well, you know how the rest goes. The book in question is a novel; meaning that it’s original, not fiction. It’s called “A Tale of Two Teams” by What-the Dickens and tells the tale of Dexters Storm and Dexters Thunder, who for the first time represent Dexters Walking Football Club in the Dorset Walking Football League 50s Division. The first chapter concludes with a not entirely happy ending but neither is it morose.”

The two teams played in the opening round of the division and couldn’t quite manage a win between them. Indeed, they recorded only two draws! Returning to the cover of this particular book, I have every faith there are promises of a great deal of success and satisfaction in the pages to come, when a number of the players who were enjoying their first taste of competitive walking football, have found their feet as well as the bond and camaraderie which is evident in training and will apply them to the detriment of the other seven teams in what is a highly competitive tournament.”

Well done, Storm and Thunder – you did Dexter’s proud. I await the next round in November with great excitement and enthusiasm.”

Andy Madden, DSWFC 50s Manager

Never let it be said Andy isn’t theatrical!