Last updated on 29 December 2025
Walking football is one of the fastest growing sports on the planet. In the UK alone, there are more than 1,500 clubs and around 90,000 people take part. The rules couldn’t be simpler: it’s football played at a gentler pace, with no running and no physical contact.
Back in 2023, a determined group of 70 somethings launched Kingston Walking Football Club 70+ (KWFC). They’re now on the hunt for that rare treasure – a goalkeeper aged 70+ and another aged 75+. It’s a brilliant way to stay active without it feeling like exercise, and there’s regular social interaction with others who are just as happily in denial about the passing years.
Team achievements
KWFC is affiliated with the Surrey FA and part of the 70+ league, facing teams backed by major clubs such as Chelsea and Fulham. Despite being self-funded, without a home ground or sponsorship, KWFC have achieved remarkable success.
In their debut year in 2023, KWFC won the Surrey FA League and League Cup and reached the semi-finals of the WFA National Cup. In 2024 and 2025 they repeated the league double and also won the Walking Football Association National Cup.
In October 2025, KWFC provided half of the England team that won the FIWFA 70+ World Nations Cup in Spain – becoming world champions against teams from Europe, Canada, Japan and Australia. Not bad for a small, self-financing club helping put Kingston upon Thames on the sporting map.
Their successes were recognised locally by being awarded Royal Borough of Kingston’s Sports Team of the Year 2025 and celebrated at a reception at the Guildhall in November 2025.
However, sustaining this level of success is becoming financially challenging, and the club now welcomes all forms of support.
Players fund their own travel and accommodation for ‘away’ tournaments, travelling to locations including Worthing, Bournemouth, Evesham, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Nottingham, Lincoln and Billericay. At every event, they have remained unbeaten and attracted national attention.
However, sustaining this level of success is becoming financially challenging, and the club now welcomes all forms of support.
If you’re interested in becoming involved, or know someone who is, contact manager Peter Yiannakou on peteryiannakou@hotmail.com.
You can follow their news and achievements at www.kingstonwfc.com or join the Facebook group Kingston WFC.