Walking Football Near You | Find Football For Over 50s
Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
If you’re beyond the age of 50 but still love playing the world’s most popular sport, joining a walking football club could be the perfect solution! Walking football is a variant of the game which places less emphasis on the physical side - with no running or heading, and less tackling.
This sport has exploded in popularity over the last few years, and we’re here to help find walking football near you.
We’ve gathered some of the best walking football groups throughout the UK, as well as listed several directories you can use to find walking football near you.
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In this article:
- How does walking football work?
- How to join a walking football club
- Walking football directories
- Find a walking football group near you
- The benefits of walking football for over 50s
How Does Walking Football Work?
The biggest difference between walking football and regular football is the lack of running. This sport is played at a walking pace - both on and off the ball. You can still walk as fast as you want though.
It’s also classed as a non-contact sport, meaning tackles can be made, but can’t involve any contact between players. The ball has to stay below head height as well, so no heading is allowed.
Finally, walking football is usually a small-sided game. It’s often played on a 3G or 4G pitch in a six-a-side format with smaller goals.
How To Join a Walking Football Club
Joining a walking football club is easy. All you have to do is find the right club for you - and get in touch to see if they have any spaces for new members. Most clubs will provide a contact number, email address or contact form.
Choose between a club, session or team
Some walking football groups play casual matches where the emphasis is on having fun and socialising. Other clubs will play in leagues, meaning the level of football will naturally be greater and each match will be taken more seriously.
If you’re unsure, ask about whether a club leans more towards the casual or serious side of the sport when enquiring about joining.
Walking Football Directories
Below, we’ve listed a range of places you can find walking football in the UK. Often, all you need to do is enter your postcode or location, and you’ll be given a list of walking football groups near you.
Walking Sports
Walking Sports is one of the most comprehensive walking football directories. When searching, you can filter by your location and the type of session you’d like, such as disability, men-only, women-only or mixed sessions.
Each result includes the cost per session and location.
The Walking Football Association
The Walking Football Association directory is another place to find walking football near you. As of April 13th 2023, there are 583 different clubs around the UK, so you won’t be short of options!
Each result includes the club name, where they’re based, whether they’re an affiliated WFA (Walking Football Association) club and their contact details.
Walking Football World
Walking Football World allows you to find walking football clubs in the UK by filtering by your location. You can also filter by the type of group you’d like to join. If you’re interested in playing at a higher standard, select ‘tournaments & festivals’ or ‘leagues’. For something more laid back, select ‘clubs’ or ‘sessions’.
Age UK Walking Football
Age UK has teamed up with The Football Association and Sport England to create a walking football programme. Click here for their list of walking football clubs in the UK. Each listing includes their address, when they meet and how to book.
Better
Better have a range of leisure centres and sports centres that offer walking football. Enter your postcode to find out which centres offer this sport. You can also filter your search to see if different groups currently have any availability.
National Walking Football Alliance
The National Walking Football Alliance directory shares walking football clubs broken down by the different regions of the UK, including how many clubs are in each of these regions. You can also search for clubs by entering your postcode, or by a specific name.
Each result includes their address, contact details, basic information and a website if they have one.
Find a Walking Football Group Near You
Here, we’ve provided some of the best walking football groups and clubs throughout the UK. These clubs are perfect for older adults who would love to continue playing the beautiful game, but at a slower pace.
There are hundreds of walking football clubs in the UK, so you shouldn’t have any difficulty finding the perfect one!
- London and the South East
- South West
- East of England
- East Midlands
- West Midlands
- Yorkshire and the Humber
- North East
- North West
- Wales
- Scotland
London and the South East
Uxbridge Amblers
Known as the Silver Foxes, the Uxbridge Ramblers give people aged 50 and over the chance to remain involved in football. They currently have a membership of around 50 players, so are a very popular club!
Uxbridge is based in the London borough of Hillingdon, and people from nearby areas can join as well.
Website: https://www.uxbridgeamblers.co.uk/
Contact Form: https://www.uxbridgeamblers.co.uk/contact-us
Cost: £20 annual membership or £5 per session
When They Meet: Wednesday mornings and Friday evenings
London FA Walking Football
The London FA has a helpful section of their website dedicated to walking football in Greater London. There are several sessions listed here, including in the boroughs of Wandsworth and Bromley. Each session listed includes where and when they meet, contact details and their website if they have one.
Website: https://www.londonfa.com/play/adult-male/walking-football
South West England
Weymouth Walking Football
The Weymouth Walking Football Club meets twice a week on Monday and Friday evenings. This club based in Weymouth welcomes male and female players of all abilities over the age of 50. They also take part in the Dorset Walking Football League at over 50 and over 60 levels.
Website: https://www.weymouthwalkingfootball.co.uk/
Email: team@weymouthwalkingfootball.co.uk
When They Meet: 20:00-21:00 (Mondays) and 18:00-19:00 (Fridays)
Troon AFC Walking Football
Based in the village of Troon, Cornwall, Troon AFC Walking Football is aimed at people of all abilities. Their ethos is ‘fun, friendship, fitness, fair play and footie’. They run a weekly training session that lasts for two hours, along with training for tournament and league teams on a Friday evening, with this session being played at a higher standard.
Website: https://www.troonafcwalkingfootball.com/
Contact Form: https://www.troonafcwalkingfootball.com/contact.html
Cost: £5 a session
When They Meet: 18:00-20:00 (Wednesdays) for training, and 19:00-20:30 (Friday) for training and matches
East of England
Wakering WFC
Wakering Walking Football Club promotes the health of men over 50 through weekly training sessions on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. This club is also affiliated with the WFA (Walking Football Association) and EWFL (Essex Walking Football League), regularly taking part in various competitions around Essex.
Website: http://wakeringwfc.com/
Email: enquiries@wakeringwfc.com
When They Meet: 19:00-20:00 (Fridays) and 09:00-10:00 (Saturdays)
Watton Vikings
The Watton Vikings is a walking football club for over 50s - particularly for those who are looking to stay active and meet new people. Watton is based in the county of Norfolk, and members meet at the Watton Sports Centre.
Website: http://wattonvikingswalkingfootball.com/
Email: info@wattonvikingswalkingfootball.com
Cost: £4 per session
When They Meet: 18:00-19:00 (Mondays)
East Midlands
Newark Town Walking Football
The Newark Town Walking Football Club is perfect for people looking for a fun social experience whilst also staying active in later life. They meet every Thursday at the YMCA Sports Village - in the centre of Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire - from 18:00 to 19:00, with an hour-long session costing just £2.
Website: https://www.newarktownfc.com/teams/257023
Contact Number: 07811126965
Cost: £2 per session
When They Meet: 18:00-19:00 (Thursdays)
Kettering Walking Football Club
The Kettering Walking Football Club is aimed at over 50s. Today, they have around 20 players who regularly attend the club, which takes place at the Kettering Science Academy.
Website: http://www.ketteringwalkingfootballclub.co.uk/
Email: nick.folwell@outlook.com or a.ducker@ntlworld.com
When They Meet: 19:50-21:00 (Wednesdays)
West Midlands
Walsall Walking Football
Over 300 individuals have taken part in walking football through the Walsall FC Foundation since the sessions began in 2014. There are currently two weekly sessions, along with extra competitions and football festivals across the West Midlands and the UK as a whole.
Sessions take place at the Sneyd Community Association Centre, just north of the centre of Walsall.
Website: https://walsallfcfoundation.com/health/walkingfootball/
Email: chris.springthorpe@walsallfc.co.uk
Cost: £4 per session
When They Meet: 10:00-11:00 (Tuesdays) and 18:00-19:00 (Fridays)
Chesterton Crusaders
The Chesterton Crusaders offer walking football, netball and cricket for older adults. These sessions take place in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. The walking football played here is perfect for people looking to make new friends, have fun and play at their own pace.
Website: http://ccwf.club/
Contact Form: http://ccwf.club/contact/
Cost: £5 per session
When They Meet: 09:00-11:30 (Saturdays)
Yorkshire and the Humber
Skipton Walking Football
Skipton Walking Football offers three sessions to pick from - and your first is completely free! Anybody aged 18 and over is welcome, but the majority of players are over 50.
As of March 2023, this club based in Skipton, North Yorkshire has 80 registered members, with 61 of these playing regularly.
Website: https://www.skiptonwalkingfootball.com/
Contact Number: 01756 793747
Cost: £5 per session
When They Meet: 12:00-13:00 (Mondays), 19:00-20:00 (Thursdays) and 19:00-20:00 (Fridays)
Sheffield Wednesday Walking Football
Sessions with Sheffield Wednesday Walking Football are an amazing way to stay fit while meeting new people. Here, you’ll pay just £2 per session, with several sessions running throughout the week and taking place in different locations across the city of Sheffield.
Website: https://swfccp.co.uk/health/walking-football/
Email: community@swfc.co.uk
Cost: £2 per session
When They Meet: 14:30-15:30 (Mondays), 13:30-14:30 and 19:00-20:00 (Tuesdays), 17:00-18:00 for a women-only session (Thursdays) and 12:00-13:00 (Fridays)
North East England
Chester-le-Street Walking Football
The aim of Chester-le-Street walking football is to help people aged 55 and over continue playing the beautiful game. They meet weekly for a fun and laid-back session in Chester-le-Street.
Website: http://www.chesterlestreettownfc.com/walking-football/
Contact Number: 07720 522 435
Cost: £1 per session
When They Meet: 11:00-12:00 (Fridays)
Gateshead FC Foundation
The Gateshead Football Club Foundation runs a range of walking football sessions throughout the week. Some of these are specifically aimed at over 50s, while others are open to people of all ages.
All you need to do is register your interest using the email below, or the contact form on their website. These sessions take place in a few locations across Gateshead.
Website: http://gfc-foundation.org.uk/Walking-Football/
Email: register@gfc-foundation.org.uk
When They Meet: 10:30-11:30 for stroke survivors (Mondays), 11:30-12:30 for all ages (Mondays), 10:30-11:30 for over 50s (Wednesdays), 11:00-12:00 for over 50s (Thursdays) and 18:00-19:00 for all ages (Thursdays)
North West England
Tameside Striders
The Tameside Striders is a walking football club based in Denton, Greater Manchester. The average age of this group is around 67 years old. They have separate sessions for people aged over and under this age. The ‘Over 68’ hour takes place at 10:00 on a Tuesday, and the ‘Unders’ then play after this (from 11:00).
Website: https://www.tamesidestridersdenton.org/
Email: tamesidestriders@gmail.com
When They Meet: 10:00-11:00 (Tuesdays) and 10:00-11:00 (Thursdays)
St Helens WFC
St Helens Walking Football is an affiliate member of The Walking Football Association. They run a few sessions throughout the week for older adults. Their Monday and Wednesday sessions follow the Walking Football Association rules, while their Friday session is more relaxed.
These sessions take place in different locations across St Helens.
Website: https://www.sthelenswalkingfootball.com/
Email: enquiries@sthelenswalkingfootball.com
When They Meet: 10:45-12:00 (Mondays), 18:45-20:00 (Wednesdays) and 19:00-20:15 (Fridays)
Wales
Merthyr Town Walking Football
Merthyr Town FC Walking Football is aimed at over 50s looking to stay active. To take part in their sessions, you’ll need to wear astroturf trainers or boots with either plastic or rubber studs.
Website: https://www.merthyrtownfc.co.uk/community/walking-football/
Email: merthyrwalkingfootball@gmail.com
Cost: £4 per session
When They Meet: 10:00-11:00 (Mondays) and 10:00-11:00 (Thursdays)
Cardiff City Walking Football
The Cardiff City FC Foundation runs a weekly walking football session on Thursdays. This is primarily aimed at people aged 50 and over, but those in the 60+ age group and beyond are also welcome to attend.
Website: https://cardiffcityfcfoundation.org.uk/our-projects/project/walking-football
Email Form: https://cardiffcityfcfoundation.org.uk/our-projects/project/walking-football
Cost: £5 per session
When They Meet: 13:30-15:00 (Thursdays)
Scotland
Spartans FC Walking Football Group
This free-of-charge walking football club takes place each Monday across four 15-minute games. All you need to take part is a pair of moulded studs or blades (you can borrow these from the club if you don’t have any). Members can then go for a hot drink and post-match chat after the games are over!
This walking football group is based in Edinburgh.
Website: https://www.spartanscfa.com/what-we-do/disability-football
Email: eddiemalone@spartanscfa.com
Cost: Free of charge (small donations are collected)
When They Meet: 12:00-13:00 (Mondays)
Walking Football Scotland
This helpful directory is the perfect place to find a walking football club in Scotland. By using the Walking Football Scotland website, you can filter by your local area to find a range of walking football clubs nearby. Each of these listings includes where and when they meet, contact details and the cost per session.
Website: https://www.walkingfootballscotland.org/joinin/
The Benefits of Walking Football For Over 50s
It’s a low-impact sport that’s easy on the joints, making it the perfect game for older adults
It’s a brilliant way of keeping fit and improving both your physical and mental health
It’s a great way of meeting new people and making new friends
It’s a really enjoyable way of exercising
It improves balance and coordination
Regular exercise helps you sleep better
Belonging to a team or club will give you a genuine sense of belonging
More Social Opportunities For Over 50s
If you’re aged 50 or over, be sure to check out our other articles about social groups and more throughout the UK:
We’re on a mission to support individuals and their loved ones throughout each stage of their later living journey. For more information, check out everything Lottie has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the minimum age for walking football?
Though walking football is often marketed as a sport aimed at older adults - such as men over 50 and women over 40 - some clubs accept people of all ages. When joining a walking football team, be sure to check if they have a minimum age in place. Some are specifically aimed at people aged over 50 or 60.
Can anyone play walking football?
The low-intensity nature of walking football makes it a brilliant sport for people with a variety of skill and fitness levels. Many clubs will run matches that are played at a higher standard, along with more casual training sessions.
Is walking football good exercise?
Walking football is a brilliant way of keeping fit and healthy. Not only does it help you stay active and lose weight, but it also offers additional benefits like preventing loneliness and boosting your emotional wellbeing.
