THE curtain raiser for AFC Totton's pre-season friendly against National League Eastleigh was a game between walking footballers from both clubs.

Among the Totton players was Louise Gardner, a former Southampton Ladies player who represented England in the first Women's World Cup tournament held in Mexico in 1971.

The squad also included Derek Priestley, Ronnie Aitken, Brett McCall, Jon Shore, Mike Stones, Bob Walsh, Nick Illingsworth, Don Keltie, Clyde Ward and Tony Borowiec.

Eastleigh's squad was skippered by Dave Blake, who has led Eastleigh to walking football national league championships.

The nine-a-side contest was played on the grass at The Snows Stadium with Eastleigh running out 1-0 victors.

Walking football sessions are run on the multiple use games area (MUGA) at the Snows Stadium on Tuesday and Friday mornings. The current group are predominantly aged late 60s to mid 70s, although there are members in a wider age range, notably 83 years young Jim Dolbear.