The WFA organised the South East Regional Walking Football trials which were held at Barnet FC grounds in North London on the 2nd February 2019.
Only 16 were selected and although Howard, wearing a number 9 shirt scored two good goals he was not selected to play for the Over 60s team. However, Howard impressed the Over 60s Manager enough as his email indicated.
The manager Richard had written “Very nice job!” And mentioned that Howard was the only outfield player who played both sessions, morning, and afternoon. (Howard played a total of six games on that day, Howard did say that he could hardly walk home after all the games, but he loved every minute.
The manager also said to Howard that there were a lot of good players on the day and selection was of course difficult. Although Howard was then 72 years old and was too old for the Over 60s Team with Howard’s exceptional fitness he should consider setting up as player/manager for the over 70s team (which was just about to be formed by the WFA) and for not just the South East Region but for England! And added that If Howard wanted some help in taking this forward to let him know 😊".
Howard was greatly encouraged by the manager's comments.
Howard was offered and took up the role as player/manager for the Over 70s for the England South East Region for the WFA and also he went on to personally enter several trials for England Over 70s Team which he was selected to represent his country for both the over 70s and then the over 75s Walking Football Teams where they were to be playing against countries such as France, Italy, and Spain but again due to Covid-19, these games did not take place.
Shenanigans in the WFA Camp.
Even though there were no matches against other countries played during the various lockdowns, Howard also didn’t get to play any of the future games that were planned post Covid restrictions due to what he calls the Shenanigans going on within the WFA Camp.
Howard received written proof of being selected for England’s Over 70s and also Over 75’s Teams. Firstly, for the Over 70’s, Howard had a successful trial where he played very well and scored a goal against the then chosen England Walking Football team who had played their first game against Guernsey. Gareth the manager (not Gareth Southgate) emailed Howard to confirm his selection for the Over 70’s Team.
Howard was also due to play at St. GEORGES PARK in September 2021, where the main England Team trains and because for reasons not made clear by the manager of the Over 75’s Team, Howard was suddenly dropped after a series of phone calls from Danny.
Danny kept calling Howard enquiring about Revelation Tv and Howard's connection with Revelation TV and its finances and it was during a particular phone conversation with the manager that Howard was beginning to become concerned and suspicious that the manager was looking for a reason to exclude him from the team when Danny suddenly ended a conversation by putting the phone down on Howard.
Even to this day, Howard believes he did not get a truthful answer from Danny or from the WFA management as to the real reason why he was suddenly dropped. it certainly wasn't because of his playing abilities because on the last trial he did in the summer of 2021 at Solihull, Fred the England Captain for the Over 75s said both on the day of the trials and by email to Howard that it had been a pleasure to have played with Howard. Saying also that “the team all played some great football and passed well”. The captain also said on both the day of the trials at Solihull and in an email that Howard was the player of the competition. Howard had scored goals in two out of the three games he trialled for that day. However, still to this day.
Howard has still not received a truthful reason why he was suddenly dropped from the England team which happened only a few days later. Howard believes it was because of that series of phone calls he received from Danny, the over 75s manager who was constantly asking Howard about his religious beliefs and in particular questions about Revelation Tv and its finances.
Howard started to think that maybe he was dropped because also the WFA management was also starting to believe in all the hate-filled lies about Howard which are spread on social media, or it was because of Howard’s faith in Jesus Christ.? 😞
The online abuse Howard has received over the last few years has been very hard for him to deal with and particularly because Howard loves to play football and this abuse is borne out by the unkind treatment he receives by some of the football players such as recently when he was playing a game at the Walton Excel Walking Football when a certain Walton player came up to Howard and said in a very harsh tone "why are you here?" and then in the middle of the game pulled Howard’s shorts down as if to humiliate him 😳
Howard would rather be counted worthy as a follower of Christ than as a player for his country.
27 мар 2022
