As England’s teams head to the World Nations Cup in Spain, walking football is proving to be one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports
There’s no running in walking football – at least, not officially. Yet as England’s over-70s took on their final training match before competing in the World Nations Cup in Spain next week, the pace felt anything but pedestrian.
Voices echoed across the pitch, sweat beading on foreheads. One man even earned a red card for grabbing another player’s arm and denying him a goal-scoring opportunity. For a sport defined by restraint, it’s surprisingly full-blooded.
“Most people would be surprised by how competitive it is, how physically demanding it is, and actually how quick it is – not because people run, but because the ball moves quickly when it’s played properly,” said Gareth Lewis, the manager of the England men’s over-70s team.
This is walking football – one of Britain’s fastest-growing sports – and at an age when many are slowing down, these players are striding towards their prime.
What began in Chesterfield in 2011 as a gentle way to coax older men back into exercise has become a runaway success story – despite the rule that one foot must always remain on the ground.
“Here we are 14 years later, and it’s probably one of the fastest-growing sports in the world,” said Stuart Langworthy, the manager of England’s over-60s. Today there are community teams, national leagues, an FA Cup, and international tournaments – including the World Nations Cup, which kicks off in Spain on Monday.
The inaugural Cup, held in 2023 at St George’s Park in Staffordshire, featured 28 men’s teams from 17 nations and England won both categories – the over-50s and over-60s.
“It was an amazing experience. It’s hard to put into words,” said Tony Jones, 70, a member of that winning side and now captain of the over-70s. This year’s tournament adds men’s over-70s and three women’s divisions – over-40s, over-50s and over-60s – with 70 teams expected from more than 30 nations.
More than 100,000 people now play regularly across the UK, many managing chronic illnesses or disabilities. 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 women’s over-60s team in Spain.
The women’s game is typically younger, said Langworthy. “You get a lot of younger women play because they want to keep fit, but they don’t necessarily want to go to a gym or go for a jog. They want to play in a team sport which is inclusive.”
The walking element is often the hardest to master. The game is six-a-side, played on a smaller 3G or 4G pitch, with no tackling from behind and no contact – rules designed to prioritise safety but which many say improve the football itself. “It’s a game of skill,” said Graham Collier, 74, a former Nottingham Forest midfielder who now plays for England’s over-60s.
As the sport’s popularity increases, so too does research into its benefits…
CONTINUE READING at source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/oct/17/england-seniors-walking-football-world-stage
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Author: The Walking Football
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