Bermuda football legend Clyde Best believes Curly's Walking Football team will benefit a lot from their first overseas tour when they head to England on Sunday.

Speaking as the team, under the mentorship of Leroy Wilson, received sponsorship from Polaris Holding Company Ltd at Bermuda College on Saturday, the former West Ham United forward feels that this is an opportunity for players in Bermuda to gain exposure.

“They’re going to England to see how fanatical the people are about football,” Best told The Royal Gazette.

“It’s really good and it’ll probably help them in their game because they’ve been playing a little bit longer at this level than we have. It’s nice to go and learn from them, pick up tips and see how the game is played.”

Best and Wilson, a former Dandy Town and Wolves coach, introduced walking football to the island in 2020 but Best has not been actively participating because of eyesight challenges.

“I had eye problems so I had to take care of that the first time,” Best said.

“I can see a bit better now but I don't think I’ll come back to playing, I’m 75 years old in a few months, so I don’t need to be out there playing football now.

“It’s nice to see the older people being involved. I like to see guys that are out there still doing stuff. This will help with your fitness, keep you safe and keep you sharp.

“Your joints are probably not going to hurt as much as a regular match.”

CWF will be in Liverpool from November 24 to December 1 for a tour put together with assistance from Dennis Brown, a former Bermuda captain. Matches against community clubs have been arranged for the team, whose average age is 64.

George Butterfield, the team captain, declared that the side are ready to fly the Bermudian flag in Merseyside.

“We’ve been training for the last eight months or so, concentrating on this trip,” Butterfield said.

“Guys have actually been improving and doing a lot better. Once we go overseas, we’re looking to make history and then we’re also looking to represent Bermuda well, and I think we will do that.”

Vice-captain John Robinson, who described himself as a newbie in walking football, is excited by the prospects of playing the sport overseas.

“I'm a latecomer,” the 69-year-old former Devonshire Colts player said.

“I’ve only been here for about a year, but it’s something to keep me going and I’m a lover of the sport, so this is perfect for me at my age.

“I just want to encourage anybody that wants to keep active to come out and try. I see this trip as an opportunity to go and see what this walking football thing is really about.

“I hear that it’s growing worldwide, so this is an opportunity for us to see a good level of the sport and I’m looking forward to it.”

Gordon-Stewart Wilkinson, the oldest member of the team, is delighted to be embarking on his first excursion to England.

“I feel great about this trip,” the 78-year-old said.

“In fact, when I was with Southampton Rangers in the First Division, I broke my leg so couldn’t go on tour.

“This will be my first time going to England. I started with Curly’s Walking Football two weeks before Cup Match. Clyde Best asked a few years ago about coming here, but I was working and I couldn’t make it.”

Wilson has big dreams for walking football on the island, with the first overseas trip seen as a stepping stone to achieving those dreams.

“I’m excited about it because six years ago, I wanted to start something new in Bermuda, so I decided with Clyde to have walking football,” he said.

“It’s history in Bermuda, we are behind, but we’re here now and I'm looking for better things to come in Bermuda.

“We’re trying to start a league that will be more competitive because it’s our goal to get to the World Cup in walking football, but we need to have a league so we can have more competition and better players.

“For this trip, I’m expecting players to really learn from the trip and to see what level we’re at.”

Wilson expressed his gratitude to the sponsors for supporting a sport that is still growing in popularity.

“It’s very important that Polaris came on board because it’s pretty hard to get somebody to sponsor any type of sport in Bermuda,” Wilson added.

“A lot of people don’t know what walking football is all about, but they came on board and I appreciate that.”

Cheryl Hayward-Chew, the Polaris chairwoman, who was accompanied by Randolph Rochester, the company’s chief executive officer, indicated that the sponsorship aligns with their ethos.

“I am happy to be here in support of the exciting new partnership between Polaris Holding Company Ltd and Curly's Walking Football, led by Leroy ‘Curly Joe’ Wilson,’’ Hayward-Chew said.

“When the Polaris CEO shared his five-year vision for the company some months back, he committed to finding a signature event to sponsor that aligns with our mission and values and increases our presence locally and internationally.

“Curly Joe’s vision to grow the walking football sport locally and prepare a team that could represent Bermuda on the international stage, is a perfect match for Polaris.”