Having recently retired, I wanted to do something a bit different and at the same time, try to lose a few pounds and get a bit fitter. And so, for just over a year now, I have been playing Walking Football. It’s basically football for the over-50’s without all that running and heading stuff, and twice a week, 15 to 20 like-minded men turn up for a 60-minute kick-about on the local all-weather pitch.
I’m not a couch potato, and manage to walk round the golf course once a week, but that doesn’t exactly raise the heart-rate, and so, before I went to play for the first time, I was quite nervous. I hadn’t kicked a ball in anger for over half of my life, and had visions of collapsing in a crumpled heap after ten minutes, needing oxygen. That didn’t happen of course, but because I was not, how shall I put it, in tip-top condition, yet found that my competitive instincts were still there, I overdid it a bit in the first few sessions.
I strained both calves, both quads, tweaked a hamstring, twice, and I had to miss a few sessions in the early months while my legs recovered. My wife thought I should pack it in, and got fed up of me hobbling around the house looking for sympathy. But she doesn’t understand the joy of sport, and so I ignored her negativity and persevered. I can now play full-on for an hour, and still have the energy left for a few press-ups when I get home, before taking my power nap.
You also need to look the part. I’ve got a few old football shirts that have now been soaked in proper sweat, not the nervous sweat that you get watching the City, but I have had to buy some blue shorts and socks from the stadium gift shop. I have just bought some shin pads (the shop assistant at Sports Direct couldn’t believe they were for me and not my grandkids), and I’ve got a new pair of boots on my Xmas list.
But what about the football itself? Although its called walking football, you basically walk as fast as you possibly can without being penalised for running. You can’t kick the ball above head-height and so heading skills are not required, but it IS football and inevitably there is a bit of physical contact, but it’s not a problem and overall it’s a good cardio workout. Some of the guys have obviously played to a decent standard, and are VERY competitive. I just hope that when we pick sides most of them are on my team!
When I first played I tended to play up front, being a natural goal-hanger, but I now usually play at the back because there is a bit less twisting and turning needed. However, this does not stop me from ghosting forward occasionally, and arriving, Lampardesque, to crack in the odd goal.
But seriously, its all properly organised by the County FA, we have a proper referee at times, the rules are getting formalised, and tournaments are being organised up and down the land. Our group have just won a local award for promoting health and wellbeing.
For me personally though, the main thing is that I’m actually playing football, and for an hour a week I feel like a 20-year-old again!