Tthere is no invasion here walking football – at least not officially. However, as England's over-70s team played their last training match before playing in World Cup in Spain the following week the pace was anything but pedestrian.
Voices echoed across the field and sweat formed on his forehead. One man even received a red card for grabbing another player's arm and denying him a goal-scoring opportunity. For a sport characterized by restraint, it is surprisingly full-blooded.
“Most people would be surprised at how competitive it is, how physically demanding and actually how fast – not because people are running, but because the ball moves fast if it's played correctly,” said Gareth Lewis, manager of the England over-70s men's team.
It's walking football – one of Britain's fastest-growing sports – and at a time when many are slowing down, these players are well on their way to their prime.
What started in Chesterfield in 2011 as a gentle way to encourage older men to get back into exercise has turned into a runaway success story – despite the rule that one foot must remain on the ground at all times.
“It's 14 years later and it's probably one of the fastest-growing sports in the world,” said Stuart Langworthy, manager of the England over-60s team. Today there are community teams, national leagues, the FA Cup and international tournaments, including the World Cup, which starts in Spain on Monday.
The inaugural Cup, held in 2023 at St George's Park in Staffordshire, featured 28 men's teams from 17 countries, with England winning both the over-50s and over-60s categories.
“It was an amazing experience. It's hard to put into words,” said Tony Jones, 70, a member of the winning team and now captain of the over-70s team. This year the tournament will include men's over 70s and three women's divisions – over 40, over 50 and over 60 – with 70 teams expected to take part from more than 30 countries.
More than 100,000 people now play regularly in the UK, many of whom suffer from chronic illness or disability. Women are joining in increasing numbers; Among them is Morag “Maggie” Pearce – one of the original lionesses of the 70s and 80s – who will compete in the Spanish over-60s women's team.
The women's game tends to be younger, Langworthy said. “A lot of young women play because they want to stay fit, but they don't necessarily want to go to the gym or go for a run. They want to play a team sport that is inclusive.”
The walking element is often the most difficult to master. The game is played with six players on a small 3G or 4G pitch, with no tackling or contact – rules designed to prioritize safety but which many believe improve the game itself. “It's a game of skill,” said Graham Collier, 74, a former Nottingham Forest midfielder who now plays for the England over-60s team.
As the sport's popularity grows, so does research into its benefits.
Professor Ian Varley, an exercise physiologist at Nottingham Trent University, studied 672 players at last year's FA Walking Cup. They found low injury rate overall: tackles were the cause of 45% of cases, and running – which is prohibited – 12%.
Varley said: “The important thing we found was that having a chronic illness wasn't really a barrier – more than half of the participants had it. There were people with arthritis, cancer, diabetes, stroke victims. There was one guy playing who had both hips replaced.”
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Most injuries were minor – trampled toes or blows to the shin – and only 7% were related to pre-existing conditions.
Players' emotional well-being was also above the national average, and loneliness was less common. “The national average is about 5% who feel ‘often lonely,’” Varley said. “In walking football it was 1%. People were saying their social connections were better, their fitness was better, they were sleeping better, they were more confident. It was almost like a magic bullet.”
For Jones, the biggest benefit is the friendships. “It's the camaraderie, the banter in the locker room,” he said.
The social and cognitive benefits of the sport are being tested in other groups. Dr Marie Poole studying at Newcastle University Dementia Friendly Walking Football Initiative with Newcastle United Foundation. “A lot of these guys are football fans and just the feeling of being part of something again is really rewarding,” she said. “There are also cognitive benefits associated with organizing your thoughts about what you are doing, who you are trying to pass the ball to, how you position yourself to score or defend.”
“It's a workout for the brain and body,” added Professor Louise Robinson, who was also involved in the study.
Another example is Parkinson's disease: Langworthy demonstrates video by Paul Nichollswho was diagnosed in 2014 and is the founder of England's first Parkinson's disease walking football team. Although he has difficulty walking without assistance, once he receives a soccer ball, he will be able to run, turn, and dribble. “Because your brain thinks, 'I have to control the ball,' it somehow allows your body to work,” said Simon Forrest, director of impairment at the Walking Football Association, who also has Parkinson's disease.
It may be inclusive, but at elite level, walking in football is fiercely competitive. By winning the World Cup in 2023, England have a strong chance of retaining their title, although Italy poses a threat. “They're doing everything you'd expect from an Italian team,” Jones said with a twinkle in his eye. “The problem is that everyone wants to beat us.”
Watching players over 70 play, it is clear that the passion for football does not fade – it just takes on a different gait. “As an older person, you look around at what other older people are doing, and we're playing soccer. We're going to France, Italy, Spain for the World Cup,” Lewis said. “Pinch me. We got our football back.”
The rise of race walking
While walking sets the pace, more other walking sports are gaining popularity across the UK and beyond, offering less-invasive ways to stay active, social and engaged.
Walk netball is another English invention, developed by England Netball in collaboration with Age UK in 2017 and rolled out nationally with support from the Women's Institute and local leisure centres. It adapts the standard rules of netball: running and jumping are prohibited, the holding time on the ball is increased and extra steps are allowed. The game has proven particularly popular among women over 50, providing fitness and friendship.
Walk rugby is also gaining momentum. This non-contact adaptation, first played at Reading RFC in 2015 after players asked for a version similar to walking football, eliminates tackles, mauls, rucks and scrums – and requires participants to always walk. Players can hold the ball for no more than three seconds before passing, maintaining a fast pace and encouraging interceptions.
Walk tennis the latest to join the line. Age UK and the Lawn Tennis Association Tennis Trust have launched eight pilot groups across England, aiming to reach more than 160 older people over the next two years, particularly those with health problems, disabilities or limited mobility. The game removes many of the physical barriers of tennis: there is no running or jumping, players are allowed two bounces of the ball, and matches are played on smaller courts with softer balls and lighter rackets.
