Walking football gathering pace in Ireland

"I can’t say enough good about it. Who would ever have thought that at our age we’d be playing football?" asked Paul Massey of Bray Wanderers walking football club, who is nearly 70.

Massey, speaking at the third League of Ireland Walking Football Festival in July, was one of around 180 players from 15 clubs to take part, whose average age was 66.

They are all part of a growing community of walking football players in Ireland, where more than 60 groups now play the sport each week through grassroots clubs, League of Ireland events or non-governmental organisations such as Age & Opportunity and the Irish Men's Sheds.

Around 180 players took part in this year's League of Ireland Walking Football FestivalStephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Taking the next step

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is helping drive this growth. It plays a key role in Ireland’s Walking Football National Development Committee, which recently launched the country’s first walking football strategy.

The strategy aims to make walking football a widely recognised, inclusive and accessible sport, particularly for older players. Its targets include establishing teams in all counties in the country and increasing participation from 1,000 regular players to 5,000 by the end of 2029.

The FAI has also developed a free introductory eLearning course on walking football, following the creation of a walking football guide in 2024. It has also worked with groups of volunteers to deliver five dedicated walking football referee courses.

All these efforts are aimed at making sure football is open to everyone, no matter their age. "Walking football is absolutely brilliant for people who have played all their lives but get to 55 or 60 and stop," said Athlone Town's Pauric Nicholson, another to play in the Walking Football Festival. "Now more and more people are getting involved. It invigorates you."

Ireland's first walking football strategy aims to grow the game and increase playing opportunities Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Physical and mental benefits

Walking football provides a safe, social and enjoyable way for older adults to stay active, connected and involved in the game they love.

Beyond the physical benefits, it gives people opportunities to connect with peers in an inclusive and welcoming environment.

"Everyone should be able to enjoy football, no matter their skillset, ability or age, and this is why walking football plays such an important role in keeping more people involved in the game for longer," said John Martin, FAI director of football. "It’s just another step in the [football] pathway, except this pathway might last 60 years for some people."