GIRVAN’S Walking Football has been given special recognition for promoting health and wellbeing in the town.

The members of the team who meet at Hamilton Park each week were delighted to receive a special ball from UEFA by Walking Football Scotland chairman Gary McLaughlin.

One of the members who took to the field after recovering from surgery on a brain tumour says he felt ‘proud’ to receive a visit from the games chief.

Campbell Frame, 73, told the Advertiser: “I was proud that Gary McLaughlin the chairman of Walking Football, on behalf UEFA, presented us with promoting health and wellbeing in Girvan.

“It’s a great honour for our town.”

“We had a wee tournament and because of what we have done in Girvan, and it was arranged that UEFA were giving a ball out to certain clubs for promoting health and well being.”

“It was great to meet Gary, he’s a gentleman and a great ambassador of what we do.”

Campbell who is still living with a brain tumour, has noticed a real difference in his own health and the health of others who take part.

He told how one of the members who struggles with mental health never left the house for six months but loves taking part now.

He said: “I’ve lost two stone through Walking Football. I had Diabetes and I don’t need to take medication for it now.

“We have one guy who hadn’t been out the house for six months, his carer gets him to come out to play at the park and when he scores a goal you’d think he just scored a goal in the Scottish Cup he thoroughly enjoys it, all the guys try and give him the ball just to see him scoring a goal, we’ve got a guy with Dementia who can’t turn round, sometimes he tackles his own team mates, you get a great pleasure out it, we all get on great.”