Hartlepool plays host to a feast of walking football

Fifteen teams from all over Britain took part in the tournament.

A major football tournament was held in Hartlepool with teams from all over the country travelling to town to compete.

Seaton Carew FC hosted Teesside’s first-ever Walking Football Tournament for over-50s teams at the Sports Domes in Seaton Carew.

It was a big success as 15 teams from all over Britain converged at the domes including from Blackpool, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sunderland and Leeds.

They competed for the inaugural SCFC Trophy and also helped to celebrate the first anniversary of Seaton’s walking team the Seaton Strollers.

Teams took part in six-a-side games with winners and best runners up from three groups moving to the semi-final and final stages.

A Tyne-Wear derby in group 2 ended in a 3-1 victory to Sunderland to send the Wearsiders home happy and Newcastle crashing out of the tournament.

The first semi-final saw the Seaton Carew FC’s A and B teams clash in a fiery, one-sided encounter which saw the A team run out comfortable 6-0 winners.

In the second semi, Leeds ran out 2-0 winners against a spirited Newcastle Blue Flames B side that contained three players aged over 75.

The final saw the hosts Seaton lift the trophy after a great team performance against Leeds with Mark Saint scoring the winning goal.

Hartlepool United striker Billy Paynter presented the awards to the winners and runners-up at Hornby Park.

Leeds midfielder George Stewart received the Player Of The Tournament award.