Meet North East Parkies United: Adrian Wrigley

This World Parkinson’s Day excitement is building among participants of Foundation of Light’s Neurological Walking Football programme.

The group is gearing up for their first time competing together as a team, North East Parkies United, as they are set to head to St. George’s Park on Saturday 19 April to play in the Sport Parkinson’s Walking Football Tournament.

Starting out as a one-hour drills and games session followed by a chit and chat in the Beacon of Light’s Yard Nine Café, the bond formed by the group has led to them forming an official team.

We are catching up with some of North East Parkies United’s members, starting with goalkeeper Adrian Wrigley.

“After coming along for a session, I immediately loved the community spirt and physical activity,” said 57-year-old Adrian who travels from Billingham to Sunderland weekly to take part.

Speaking on his condition, he added: “I was formally diagnosed with Parkinson’s four years ago and I have heavy tremors on my left-hand side and starting on the right.

“I’ve actually had some symptoms for the last ten years or so undiagnosed.

“It’s progressing, but I’m trying to stay as active and positive as possible. In keeping your body moving and the neurological network active, it can help slow the decline.

“There’s so many positive benefits to these sessions, I’ve never looked back really.”

For those with Parkinson’s Disease, exercise is a vital component to maintaining balance, mobility and activities of daily living. However, Adrian also pinpoints the social benefits of the session as a key part of the sessions.

“We always have a coffee and what becomes a bit of a whinge together,” he explained.

“We match up our symptoms, support networks, and talk about activities going on.

“The social aspects, keeping your mental wellbeing, just having a chat and cracking on with the team, is really important.

“Often with Parkinson’s, your voice is a muscle that if you don’t use it, you lose it.”

“We have now formed a team, North East Parkies United,” Adrian added about the upcoming competition.

“The ‘United’ is because we all come from different teams, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sunderland, and we even allow Hartlepool.

“There’s a big national drive to get people active, and one of them is by the EFL and Sport Parkinson’s for football, so we’re going down to take part in their tournament at St. George’s Park.

“25 years ago, after I got knocked over and injured my knee, I thought any kind of football was done by.

“Here we are, doing a bit of football at the ripe old age of 57.”