Walking Football was invented and introduced to the English public in 2011 by John Croot from Chesterfield FC. The idea was to encourage older men to engage in a sport to which they would probably adapt easily, and which would promote enormous health and social benefits to the participants, not least of which would be providing opportunities for players to develop new friendships whilst trying to maintain a reasonable level of fitness and good health. Over the years, media coverage and even TV advert exposure have gradually increased the numbers of players and teams, so that there are now well over a thousand clubs in the UK.

To research Spain’s involvement in the sport and discover how its oldest walking football league has developed, one has to go back several years to the time when, although walking football had been played on the Costa for a good while, at last clubs began to work together and organise themselves into a sponsored league, The Blue Sky Marbella League, consisting of Smiles Calahonda, Aston Vinuela, Walking Football Spain and The Walking Dead.

Over the years, the League has inducted a variety of clubs from various locations along the coast into its ranks and has been sponsored through several different sources. It is now actually split into two different leagues of their own, Over 50s and Over 60s, both of which are sponsored by My Lawyer In Spain, and are each annually accompanied by a Cup Competition, this year sponsored by Axarfusion.

Six players from the League represented Spain in the inaugural World Nations Cup in England during the summer of 2023, finishing an excellent fourth out of 19 countries, with the keeper winning the accolade of Goalkeeper of the Tournament. Although in the early years of the sport, most clubs in Spain were created by British ex-pats and attracted mostly players who had moved to Spain from the UK, it was noticeable that four of the League’s six Spanish World Nations Cup team were actually Spanish and the League hope is that more participants of different nationalities will continue to enrol and enjoy the sport.

Gradually, ladies have also joined some clubs, often taking part in the league and cup matches, and it is hoped that, eventually, enough will participate to form full teams and a women’s league of its own. Currently, ladies who are 40+ are able to play in the Over 50s League and those who are 50+ may take part in the Over 60s League.

The League is now represented and governed by a League Committee consisting of a Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Fixtures Coordinator, Referees Coordinator and a representative from each league club. They meet regularly to monitor the League’s progress and to discuss and decide upon how best the sport can develop in the region for the future.

In keeping with their philosophy of nurturing a sense of camaraderie and community spirit, our league clubs have often engaged in organising events such as raffles, race and quiz nights, karaoke parties and gala evenings, charity matches and, in doing so, have raised thousands of euros over the years, which have been donated to a variety of charitable organisations or more specifically to help and support individuals who are suffering in one way or another.

This current campaign sees more club participation in the League than ever and it is hoped that the Andalucia Walking Football League will continue to flourish and expand even more rapidly for the foreseeable future. Walk on, everyone!