DSWFC: Key Roles for 2025/26

As the new season rushes towards us, we thought it’d be a good idea to share what the key roles look like for the start of the 2025/26 season. Managers, Captain’s and Backroom Staff are all considered below.

Dexter Sports Walking Football Club (DSWFC) have just over 60 players registered, and four squads competing across three different age groups. We also organise a number of tournaments at our home venue, the County Ground in Hamworthy, Poole. Additionally, our online presence continues to grow and then there’s the financial management aspect.

This all takes some organising. Below you’ll find those roles which help make our club the great place, and growing success it is. It’s not an exhaustive list of contributors – on matchdays we often see Kate (Madden) running around with drinks bottles, others take on the role of tournament admin, like recording results, then of course there are the regular supporters who turn up.

Our thanks go to each and every one of you who are helping to create a club to be proud of.

Squad Managers

Apart from the players themselves, someone needs to take charge and give encouragement, guidance and apply the club philosophy – that’s where our management team step in.

Managing the 50s for the third successive season will be Andy Madden, who’s also a committee member and tournament organiser, including our Tenth Anniversary Tournament in the Summer of 2025. Andy will be ably assisted by Paul Gillis in the assistant manager role. Paul has recently retired from being 50s Storm Captain and has moved to representing the 60s team as a player.

The 60s will continue to build under the leadership of John Gray when he starts his second season in charge. John is also an active member of the committee and is often witnessed arranging our mixed training sessions on a Monday or Friday evening. John will be assisted by Peter Kane in managing the 60s.

For the 2025/26 season we’ve a change of manager for the 65s. After guiding the squad to third place in the inaugural Dorset 65s Walking Football League, Paul Kybert has stepped down, which has allowed Terry Benson to take up the role. Terry’s been with the club just over a year and has shown great enthusiasm for his new role ahead of the new season.

The new Dorset Walking Football League season kicks-off with the 50s on 5 October 2025 at the County Ground, Hamworthy.

Team Captains

Paul Gillis was last seasons 50s Storm captain, but this season he’ll be wearing the armband for our 60s team (now that he’ll be reaching that significant age milestone soon!). As well as DSWFC Storm needing a new Captain, so will Thunder, as their captain from 2024/25 has stepped down as there skipper.

Storm will be captained in the new season by Luke (Hitchen) – he’ll literally be leading the team from the front. Luke has been our 50s top scorer every season for as long as anyone can remember! His exploits in front of goal were recognised with a call up for Dorset during last season.

While Luke will be leading Storm out, the new captain for Thunder will be David Lodge. Dave’s a relatively new member of Dexter Sports Walking Football Club, having joined just over a year ago.

Our senior team, the 65s, will be captained once again by their super-reliable Goalkeeper, Dave Bacall. As recently as last season Dave was performing miracles between the sticks for 50s Thunder. He’s a committed ‘keeper, captain and behind-the-scenes workhorse – a key part of the club.

Dexter Sports Walking Football Club expect their team captain’s to be the managers voice on the pitch, to lead by example, and display the qualities we want to see within the Dexter’s culture. Each of our captain’s are inspirational figures who have shown aspirational qualities in and around the club.

Off-field Positions

In order to get things right off the pitch, we have a team of volunteers giving their time and expertise in a variety of roles. From the committee meeting once a month and chatting online daily, to Dave keeping a close eye on administration being done in a class leading way, and Simon building a strong online presence using best practice digital practices, the club is in a good place off the field of play.