FORMER Celtic star and manager Davie Hay and Professional Footballers Association Scotland Chairman John Rankin helped launch The Scottish Walking Football League last Wednesday at The Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell.

Ten teams from across Scotland will meet on a monthly basis over the next nine months to compete for the inaugural Walking Football league Championship.

This slowed down version of the beautiful game for older adults has grown rapidly across Scotland by allowing people to reignite their passion for football, despite injury or illness, simply by slowing things down.

The league has been supported by North Lanarkshire Leisure, North Lanarkshire Health and Social Care, Paths for All and The Scottish Walking Football Network.

The Gala Fairydean Rovers Walking Football Team sit proudly at the top of the league after they won all of their first round of fixtures.

The Gala side defeated Stenhousemuir 7-2, Stirling 4-0 and Ayr United 5-1.

John Hislop, chair of the GFR Walking Team, told us: "We are delighted that Gala Fairydean Rovers are part of this historic initiative.

"The team played very well during the first round of fixtures and whilst it is early days in the championship we are pleased to be top of the league after the initial round of games.”