Benefits

We all know that regular exercise is a bit of a must as we get older, but it doesn’t have to be a chore. Taking part in these sessions provides a solid workout that looks after your heart health, keeps you mobile, and builds the kind of functional strength that helps in everyday life. Equally important is the mental boost. A good run-out on the pitch is a brilliant way to clear the head, reduce stress, and improve your sleep quality. It’s about more than just fitness; it’s about maintaining a better quality of life as we age.

The sessions are designed to be accessible for everyone, regardless of current fitness or skill level. To keep the risk of injury as low as possible, we play to a specific set of modified rules—that means no slide tackling and a strict no-nonsense approach to heavy physical contact. It’s about having a good game without the worry of a next day injury. We also include structured warm-up and cool-down periods in every session, ensuring that looking after your joints and muscles is just as important as the football itself.

We’re about more than just showing up for a game. We use the group as a way to bring people together, building a decent sense of community among everyone who takes part. For many of us, the social side of things is just as important as the fitness. To keep that going, we’ve got a social media group where members can stay in touch, share a bit of progress, and organise things like a drink or a meal out once the football is finished for the day.”

While a healthy sense of competition can be a great motivator for some, we believe the heart of a great session lies elsewhere. For us, the primary goal is always centered on fun, fitness, and genuine camaraderie. We take pride in keeping our atmosphere light-hearted and enjoyable, stripping away the pressure and replacing it with support. This ensures that every single person—regardless of their starting skill level or athletic background—feels entirely welcome, respected, and valued from the moment they join us.”​

The aim is to organise regular events and friendly tournaments throughout the year. We find these can serve as great motivational goals for our members to work towards, providing a bit of focus for our weekly sessions without losing the relaxed atmosphere. These bigger match days also help to attract broader community attention to our group, often encouraging new people to come along and see what we’re about. Beyond the football, it’s a fun, low-pressure way to assess how we’re improving as a team and, more importantly, a chance to celebrate the community we are building together both on and off the pitch.

We regularly ask for feedback from the members to see what works well and what could be improved. This could cover everything from the structure of the sessions to the social activities planned.

Active participation in decision-making strengthens our community and ensures the program remains responsive to the group’s needs.

We also invite professionals to offer advice and guidance occasionally.

This is in the form of guest coaches, fitness trainers specializing in working with older adults and health professionals who provide workshops on nutrition, injury prevention, or mental health.