Richard Luscombe When Argyle season ticket holder and Plymouth resident Martin Huggins received a devastating cancer diagnosis in 2023, he felt isolated and struggled with his physical and mental recovery following treatment. Seeking a lifeline, Martin found vital support and friendship through Tackle Cancer Walking Football – a friendly group of individuals bringing people together who have shared the same experiences and have a love for the beautiful game.
After a year of chemotherapy and two successful operations for kidney and bladder cancer, with vital early diagnosis ensuring Martin is thankfully now in recovery, he needed a way to get his fitness back and reconnect with society.
“Following my treatment, I wanted to get back doing something for myself again,” Martin explained. “I knew my fitness wasn’t very good and I knew I’d been a bit isolated. The sessions were the perfect opportunity to get started, to get moving, and meet new people.”
The Friday morning sessions, held at Argyle Community Trust’s Manadon Sports and Community Hub, are specifically designed to support individuals awaiting diagnosis, undergoing treatment, or in recovery from cancer. They provide accessible physical activity through small-sided games, alongside a support network and mental wellbeing benefits.
Martin, a keen footballer who played regularly into his 40s, hadn’t played for several years. Due to the effects of treatment Martin was struggling with his physical fitness and mental wellbeing. “I was nervous about starting again. I hadn’t done any serious exercise for a couple of years and hadn’t played football for a long time. The first few weeks took me the remainder of the week to recover to play again.”
Within months, the physical and mental benefits were clear. “It’s definitely helped me fitness-wise, I’ve lost weight and socially it’s been really good,” Martin said. “We have good friendships and banter. It’s helped me mentally and physically. I look forward to it every week. It’s one of the highlights of the week for me now.
“Going through something like cancer can be quite isolating- the treatment, regularly going to hospital – it becomes all consuming. For me walking football was a bit of an escape. I forgot about all that and just had fun.”
Martin also highlighted the crucial role that programme funders, Classic Builders and Beehive Homes, played in his journey. For the first 18 months their generous support allowed Tackle Cancer Walking Football sessions to be offered free of charge. “Being able to come here free of charge in that time was really helpful.” Martin noted.
“Whilst I was having treatment, I had to reduce my hours at work, so every little bit helped. Staff from Classic would come and join the sessions. It was good to see them, and they talked to me about my experience of going through cancer. I can only say great things about them.”
Walking football is an inclusive, non-contact sport played at walking pace, ideal for men and women over the age of 50. Due to it being much less physically demanding, it removes barriers to participation for those that aren’t as mobile and no longer able to play regular football.
More than football, it provides friendships, a support network, and physical and mental wellbeing support for participants. Some players have even gone on to take part in regional, national, and international walking football tournaments.
To find out more about the men’s, women’s and cancer walking football sessions, please visit the Argyle Community Trust website: https://argylecommunitytrust.co.uk/what-we-do/health/walking-football/.
If you know someone who needs support following a cancer diagnosis, you can also contact the Plymouth Cancer Champions Project: https://zebra.coop/work/plymouth-cancer-champions/. Plymouth Cancer Champions is a three-year project, funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and hosted by Zebra Collective in close collaboration with community partners Age UK Plymouth and the Wolseley Trust Social Prescribing team.
