SILVERWARE arrived at Gala Fairydean Rovers on Sunday as the club's walking team won their own festival.

The inaugural Scottish Borders Walking Football Festival took place on Sunday.

The event was organised by Gala Fairydean Rovers in partnership with the Scottish Borders Council's community capacity building team.

Seven teams from across the Borders and Midlothian competed in a round-robin tournament in glorious sunshine at the 3G Arena with the home side, Gala Fairydean Rovers emerging victorious.

The sport, primarily aimed at the over 50s, has exactly the same rules as normal football but with one important difference… players are not allowed to run.

This slowed-down version of the sport is perfect for anybody, men or women, who enjoy a challenge, who want to be more active, perhaps have suffered injury and have been told by their doctor or physio to start becoming active again or if they have hung their boots up years ago but miss playing with their friends.

Men and women, with ages ranging from 50 up to 80, competed in the tournament which the organisers hope will be an annual event.

The format, agreed in advance was in the form of a mini-league with the top two teams playing off in a final game for the trophy.

The Midlothian team won the round-robin league triumphing in all six of their games and conceding only three goals.

They faced the hosts in the final who had finished in the runners-up position and highest scorers on 27 goals.

The home side’s scoring proved decisive as they finished level on points with Annan Athletic and progressed to the final by the narrowest of margins on goal difference.

In a tense final the game finished 0-0 and penalties were required to separate the two sides.

The Gala Fairydean Rovers team held their nerve to win 3-1 and team captain John Hislop accepted the cup to go one better than the previous week where his side had finished runners-up at Stenhousemuir FC’s tournament.

The organisers are grateful to the volunteer referees, Steven Noble, Tommy Patterson and Robert Fairburn and all the teams who participated, Annan Athletic (who sent two teams), Gala Fairydean Rovers, Kelso, Midlothian, Newcastleton and Peebles.

Anyone interested in playing walking football in the Borders should contact either Graeme McIver at Gala Fairydean Rovers on 07738 615 562 or Lynne Marshall of Scottish Borders Council on 01835 825 080.