A WALKING football team based in Stroud have made giant strides to reach national finals following their success at a six-a-side tournament in Almondsbury.

En route to that prestigious next stage they overcame Bristol City 3-0 and Yeovil 2-1 in a regional tournament played out on the 3G pitch at the Gloucestershire FA’s Oaklands Park HQ. The date and venue of the national walking football finals showpiece is yet to be confirmed but it is expected to be fought-out sometime in November.

The Stroud players, usually around 13 of them over the age of 50, train once a week at the Inside Football facility at Brimscombe in Stroud. And such is the enthusiasm that has greeted this intriguing new variation on a long-established theme that walking football is set to be introduced to other centres in the county.

Gloucestershire FA football development officer Joe Goulding said: “We have sessions about to start at Abbey Dale Community Centre in Gloucester on Monday nights between 6.30 and 7.30pm at a cost of just £2 per person.

“We’re also looking at starting them up in Cheltenham, Cirencester and Chipping Sodbury.”

Goulding added: “Walking football certainly seems to be growing in popularity among adults who simply can’t run around like they used to but still love the involvement of training and competition. All the guys involved at Stroud will have played regular football when they were younger and it’s humbling to see them still having that same drive and desire to play, even if they have slowed down for age or health reasons.

“It’s fascinating watching them and seeing they still possess the touches and passes and it’s surprising how quickly some of them can move the ball.

“Of course, as its name suggests, you can’t run in walking football. If you do you’re at risk of conceding an indirect free-kick!”

Anyone wishing to get involved with the walking football initiatives in the area – the Stroud club stages introductory sessions between 10am and 11am at Inside Football on Wednesday mornings - can contact Joe Goulding on 01454 615888 (select option 3) for more details.