SOCCER commentators often refer to a football match being played at “walking pace”. But go to the Inside Football facility at Stroud on a Wednesday morning and you’ll quickly discover that this can quite literally be the case.

‘Walking football’ is an intriguing initiative, devised by the Football Association, to encourage soccer enthusiasts over the age of 50 to participate in the sport again.

Gloucestershire FA football development officer Joe Goulding explained: “Walking football is a great new scheme and this session at Stroud is the first to be run in the county.

“It offers anyone over the age of 50 the chance to try a different variation of the game. Walking football is as simple as it sounds, albeit with one rule change - no running!

“This session is perfect for anyone who may have played in the past but has had to stop due to injury, giving them a perfect opportunity to get back into football. People can turn up with friends or by themselves and be guaranteed a game, and in the warm and dry too.”

The sessions are held every Wednesday between 10am and 11am at the brand-new indoor 3G complex at Inside Football, which can be found on Brimscombe Industrial Estate, Stroud, GL5 2QQ. Cost per person is just £3 a time.