On football pitches across the UK, thousands of people in their 50s, 60s and 70s are proving that the beautiful game does not have to end with age. Walking football is a variation of running football (or soccer) mostly targeted at older people.

But what’s it like to play football later in life? According to the walking footballers I interviewed for my latest research, the sport has become a way for them to push back against common ideas of ageing as a period defined by illness, decline and dependence.

Created in 2011, walking football provides an opportunity for people to be physically and socially active as they get older. It is estimated that around 100,000 people in England alone played walking football last year.

While there is some research on the physiological and psychological benefits of walking football, data has been limited in scale and substance.

For my study, I interviewed 53 men and 12 women who played walking football. I wanted to find out what participation in walking football meant to them. I asked them about why they initially became involved in walking football, what its major benefits and drawbacks are and how it feels to play the........

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