Charity match will raise awareness of challenges people with Parkinson's face

Two football teams will create a world first next week when they take to the pitch for a walking football match in Galashiels.

The charity match will be the first time two separate teams, predominantly made up of people with Parkinson’s, have faced each other in a walking football match in the UK.

Some spice to the occasion will be added by the fact the match is being billed as a Battle of Britain with a team travelling from Tyneside to take on Scottish Borders.

The match is at 12.30pm at the Queens Leisure Centre, Melrose Road, Galashiels on 25 October.

Alan Roberston, chair of the Borders branch of Parkinson’s UK, is one of the players.

He said: “Our team has been going for less than a year and we’re really looking forward to the match.

“We normally play against able-bodied teams and that can be tough going – this will be the first time that two teams of people with Parkinson’s have played each other and we’re really looking forward to the challenge.”

Gerry Daniel from the North Tyneside Branch of Parkinson’s UK said: “It’s brilliant to be taking part in the first ever Parkinson’s walking football match. And to be crossing the border to play it just adds to the occasion - there’s national pride at stake.”