Aroundtown Magazine July/August 2022

History made
Schoolgirls compete
for the first Don &
Dearne Girls’ Cup
Next year, the Totty
Cup school football
tournament will celebrate
its 100th anniversary.
But history was made this
year as schoolgirls from the
Don and Dearne area had
the chance to compete in the
first ever girls’ junior schools’
football competition.
There were 18 teams involved
in the Don & Dearne Girls’
Cup with primary schools from
Mexborough, Wath, Dearne
and Rawmarsh taking part in
the competition.
Penalties would decide the
first ever final, with a calm and
collected Mexborough St Johns
side going on to claim the trophy
Coming soon
Pre-order your
Montagu Cup
commemorative book
To celebrate the
125th anniversary
of the Mexborough
Montagu Cup, a special
commemorative book
is being released later
this year and pre-orders
are now open to bag the
book at a reduced price.
The once in a generation
book includes information on
every final since 1897 as well as
stories of the characters, teams
and people who have featured
in its long and proud history.
Anyone who pre-orders a copy
will have their name – or that of a
loved one – printed in the book.
Local companies are
following a strong defensive
performance throughout the
competition.
Up until the final, runners up
Brampton Ellis were the only team
to be unbeaten, winning all four
previous matches at qualifying.
Well done to all teams that
took part and here’s to a long
future of putting girls’ football
on the map in the Don and
Dearne area.
also invited to sponsor the
publication by sending their
company logo for inclusion.
Publication is aimed at
Christmas and all profits will go
to the Mexborough Montagu
Hospital Comforts Fund.
Pre-order price is £10 and
more details can be found at
www.montagucup.com
Get
back in
the game
with Rotherham u3a
Calling all sports fans
somewhat past their
prime. Thought your
playing days were
over? Well, get your
boots out of retirement
as Rotherham u3a has
two new opportunities
for you to continue
playing the sports you
once loved.
Following the great success of
their walking cricket team which
launched in spring 2021, there is a
new walking football group starting
later this summer. There are also
plans to establish a walking netball
group to encourage more older
people to adopt an active lifestyle.
The new groups are part of
an exciting partnership between
Rotherham u3a and Rotherham
United Community Sports Trust’s
(RUCST) ‘More Than Football’
project. The sessions are open
to anyone no longer in full-time
employment, irrespective of
gender, fitness level or previous
playing experience.
As the name suggests, both
walking football and walking netball
are non-contact sports played at a
walking pace. With less reliance on
speed and stamina, walking sports
work on skills such as accurate
passing, good positional play and
SPORT
strong tactical knowledge.
The football and netball teams will
be mixed of all genders and sessions
will consist of warm-up exercises
followed by five or seven-a-side
games, played to association rules
and led by qualified coach, Andy
Glossop. As running is not permitted,
it reduces the risk of injury while still
giving gentle cardiac and muscular
exercise for improved fitness.
Once the session is over, there
will also be the opportunity to
socialise over a cup of tea or coffee
where players can reminisce over
their glory days.
All you need is loose, comfortable
clothing and a pair of trainers;
RUCST is providing all equipment,
and practice bibs for both activities.
These sessions are part of a tenweek
pilot, with weekly subs of £2.50.
After completion, non-members
will be invited to join Rotherham
u3a to continue playing. Annual
membership costs are around £40
which gives access to over 30 groupled
activities ranging from arts and
crafts to foreign languages.
Walking football sessions will be
held every Monday 10am-12pm at
St Thomas’ Community Hall, High
Street, Kimberworth S61 2BF (public
transport access readily available
close to venue). The day and time
for walking netball has yet to be
confirmed but it will be held at the
same venue.
Interested in joining?
Would-be players interested
in joining should contact Andy
Glossop at RUCST on 01709
827 767/ 07508 495 883
or email anglossop@
rotherhamunited.net
For more information about the
other Ru3a activities available,
visit www.u3asites.org.uk/
rotherham or
call Sylvia Duncan on
01709 374 841.
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk 41