Fighting Fit Football's red team lift the Cure Parkinson's Cup 2024

The UK’s Cure Parkinson’s Cup walking football tournament returned for its third year this week (21st April) with Cure Parkinson’s Cup 2024 taking place at St. George’s Park Football Centre in Staffordshire, the official home of England’s national football teams.

Hosted in collaboration with Sport Parkinson’s and The Walking Football Association (WFA), the 2024 tournament saw 20 Parkinson’s walking football teams from across the UK taking part, with over 200 people with Parkinson’s participating in this free event. Teams included the first women’s team to compete at the Cure Parkinson’s Cup, Parkinson’s Pioneers, who are coached by our recent interviewee Joe Gregory, as well as his Watford-based team Fighting Fit Football (who, like many of the participating clubs, were split into two teams, Red and Black).

There were two prizes on offer: the Cure Parkinson’s Cup and the Cure Parkinson’s Shield. The official draw for the group stage teams took place on 12th April, with the results revealed on Sport Parkinson’s social media:

The day itself got started with the parade of players, which has become a tradition at this event:

The the group stage games began, the results of which saw eight teams (Fighting Fit Football Red, Northern Lights Liverpool, Phoenix 681 FC Fire, Parkysaurus, Pennine Parkies White, Nottingham Forest, Birmingham and Pennine Parkies Black) progress to the quarter-finals for the Cup, while all other teams progressed to the second stage matches for the Plate prize.

The semi-finals for the Cup saw Fighting Fit Football Red beat Parkysaurus 2-0, while Pennine Parkies White won on penalties against Pennine Parkies Black.

In the Plate semi-finals, Movers and Shakers White and Fighting Fit Football Black both won 1-0 against their opposing teams (Family Team and Arsenal, respectively).

And then it was time for the Final:

The result was a triumphant double win for Fight Fit Football, with their Red team taking the Cup, and their Black team taking the Plate! Both teams achieved their win with a 1-0 victory.

Fighting Fit Football later posted on the social platform X to describe the event as “a truly memorable day that will live with us forever”.

Speaking about the 2024 Cure Parkinson’s Cup tournament, Director of Sport Parkinson’s, Garen Williams, said:

“This is the third year we have organised the Walking Football Tournament at St Georges Park, Home of England FA, and it continues to grow every year with more teams and spectators attending. It is so important for people with Parkinson’s to be active and exercise has been proven to slow down the progression. This event brings the Parkinson’s community together to enjoy, make new friends and have fun all in a relaxed and welcoming environment.”

The Cure Parkinson’s Cup 2024 tournament also received widespread praise on social media from participants and spectators:

The date for the 2025 tournament has already been announced, with Sport Parkinson’s confirming that the fourth Cure Parkinson’s Cup will take place on Saturday 19th April 2025. Those who are interested in taking part should keep checking the Sport Parkinson’s and WFA websites.

Further information about the Cure Parkinson’s Cup can be found in this promotional video:

Find out more about the Cure Parkinson’s Cup on the Sport Parkinson’s website, and find out more about walking football on our Sports & Exercise hub.