Tonight’s Face of Tamworth is Wally Warner, veteran running coach, who is known all over the region for his generosity and ability. The now 82 year-old coach is still training for free, giving up his own time, despite trying to retire three years ago. His reason? So many kids wanted to keep training and he just couldn’t say no. Here’s our story from 2016 when Wally re-laced his coaching boots.
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YOU can’t keep a good man down.
You certainly can’t keep Wally Warner down, and nor can he, after the local athletics coach of some fifty years has launched straight back into training only months after hanging up the boots and whistle late last year.
“There were so many beautiful little kids who wanted to keep training,” Warner said.
“I couldn’t say no to them.”
The 80-year-old training machine has coached hundreds of local kids over generations in Tamworth but this time says that there will only be one more.
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“After the school carnivals and representative season that will be it,” Warner said.
“I can teach anyone to run properly.”
Warner has been taking the little flyers and jumpers on for over fifty years, training six days a week and almost every day of the year and, impressively, has never charged a cent for his services.
Recently, Warner has taken on a group of cross-country athletes and will see them through their representative seasons, although the sprinters are his bread and butter.
“I am training Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 4pm at the athletics track,” Warner said.
“Anyone who wants to come along and learn how to run properly is welcome.”
READ MORE ABOUT WALLY
The super coach is not training Tuesdays at the moment, although was out there last Tuesday putting his grand-daughter through her paces in a private session.
“I will definitely be hanging the running shoes up after this year.”
We will wait and see.
