Walking Football - something for everyone

“If a church wants to reach out to its community it needs to open the doors and put the kettle on.” This is how Keith McIntosh approaches sharing faith in 2026. His philosophy hasn’t changed in over 60 years of following Jesus. That is one reason why he started a Walking Football group at St. Andrew’s Leyland about ten years ago. As a man in the second half of life he saw others around him who didn’t get out of their house much, were widowed or in other situations that meant they needed something that got them out of bed in a morning.

Walking football has a simple premise. Get a few older folk together and play the ‘beautiful game’. But obviously you can’t run! The Football Association took on the organisation of Walking Football and there are championships and leagues around the country (and the world!). But outside of that system the purpose of walking football is different from other FA offerings - it is absolutely about getting people to socialise and meeting needs in the community through the activity. Isolation, depression, recovery from injury or heart operations. All sorts of needs can be met through an hour long session once a week. As such it is perfectly set up for churches to start in their community. 

Ambassadors Football’s mission is to help churches disciple people through football. They do this through three pillars, investing in churches, investing in people and sharing Jesus through football. So they come alongside churches that want to reach out to their older communities and help them set up walking football. One example is Revive Church in Oldham. A few retirees wanted to stay fit and so organised sessions in 2022 every week at Saddleworth Leisure centre. It proved popular and now has about 20 turning up every Tuesday and then heading down the Reclamation room café where they have a reserved table for tea and toast and a chat afterwards. Recently Fred Buxton (74) was commissioned as chaplain to the group at a Sunday service. Some players turned up who hadn’t been in church for years to support Fred.

No tackling is allowed in walking football. People come ready to increase their heart rate a little and wherever you do it you have time out at the side of the pitch where conversations take place. St. Andrew’s church is hosting a Christians in Sport quiz in March for people to come along to. Revive church have a Christmas curry for the players and their spouses. Over 40 came along in 2025.

“I have noticed as I interact with the organisers of these activities,” says Martin Bateman, CEO of Ambassadors Football, “they have had jobs in every sector of the workplace and in some cases high level roles requiring skills and expertise. These skills are being used to organise Walking football sessions, social events and more.” It keeps them energised and living with a purpose. Not only sorting out a weekly football activity but also sharing in very practical ways their faith in Jesus.

If you or your church would like to know more about hosting walking football please do get in touch with Dan Owen at Ambassadors Football who would love to begin the journey to seeing you share your faith through football.