HUNDREDS of people across Gloucestershire are now fully engaged in the walking football phenomenon – and that spiralling trend shows no sign of abating.

The new GFA Walking Football League season, which kicks off in early September, will see 20-minute games staged on a rotational basis at various venues around the county on “five or six” designated fixture days.

That’s prompted the county association’s football development officer Jack Stanbury to enthuse: “I’m very encouraged by the growth in walking football. At our latest count we had just shy of 600 people playing it across the county which is fantastic.

“The stigma attached to the sport has steadily reduced and it’s more difficult and physically exerting than people may think.

“I’m aged 25 and I got hot and sweaty and out of breath when I had a proper go at it. You’ll burn more calories playing walking football than just straightforward walking and it’s good for your sense of balance.

“It’s a social thing but for many former players of the regular game it’s more than that because it gets them involved in competitive team activity again, where they can enjoy some of that old dressing room banter and camaraderie they may have missed in retirement.”

Jack explained: “Walking football has very specific rules that outlaw all running and allows only minimal contact between players. Over-head height restrictions and indirect free-kicks ensure that the sport is played safely with full consideration to the participants’ age.

“Games are small-sided, with our league opting for the popular six-a-side format. As a result of these rules games are played at a slower pace, often on state-of-the-art 3G artificial grass pitches, thus reducing the threat of pain, discomfort and injury, with players briskly walking through matches.

“This allows people who have loved the sport all their lives to once again safely get back to playing and also introduces the sport to people who perhaps have never considered playing before.”

Anyone wishing to know more about the GFA Walking Football League, or the wealth of sessions on offer in Gloucestershire, can email Jack at jack.stanbury@gloucestershirefa.com or call him on 01454 615888 (option 3 when prompted).