West Ham United ParkinsonsWalking Football
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
In recognition of World Parkinsons Awareness Day, this Saturday, 11 April, Disabled Supporters Association Board member, Nick Pace, who has young onset Parkinsons shares his passion in playing Walking Football and how he is helping build our own team at West Ham United. If you are interested in getting involved, please see the contact details at the end of this article.
Since late 2025, the West Ham United Foundation partnered by Parkinson’s UK have been running a weekly walking football session for people with Parkinson’s. Every Friday 12-1pm. Nearly all of us turn up early for a coffee and chat beforehand.
Herve and Layla from the Foundation oversee the sessions, send us weekly reminders and have set up a WhatsApp group where we can mutually support each other. “Coach” as Bisi is known as, runs the sessions alongside Derek, a Foundation Volunteer coach and gears the sessions specifically for Parkinson’s, with a Tai Chi warm up, followed by football skill drills and ends the session with a match.
The beauty of the sessions are they are fully inclusive and pitched for everyone with Parkinson’s. We have regulars, who haven’t kicked a ball for 40+ years, right through to regular walking footballers like myself. Whether you are the next Jarrod Bowen or the next Jim Bowen you will be welcomed with open arms and hopefully walk away from the sessions with a massive smile.
Seats are provided pitch side and we have regular breaks to take on water or medication if required. I am also delighted that the club are putting me through the FA foundation coaching courses, so I will be able to run the sessions myself in the future and to support other sessions across the West Ham United Foundation.
I have 2 main aims for now and the future with the Parkinson’s Playmakers sessions. Most importantly, to get as many people exercising and playing football with Parkinson’s at the foundation, regardless of skill and ability and putting smiles on faces.
My second aim, is eventually to have a West Ham Parkinson’s Football team. Every Easter, at St. George’s Park, Burton (the home of English football) there is the Cure Parkinson’s Cup, a tournament that this year, will include 24 teams including the Foundation teams of Arsenal, Derby County, Sutton United and Huddersfield Town. I was lucky enough to be in the winning team, Fighting Fit Football, who are based at and train at Watford FC this year repeating our success in 2024. However, I would love to win again in the future playing for West Ham.
If you are a person with Parkinson’s or know someone who is impacted, please follow the link below to register and play, or contact the DSA for more information.
We would love to see you
Nick
