Comprised of 12 teams from across Scotland, the league commenced in January 2020 at Toryglen Regional Football Centre with 120 over-50s competing for the top spot. Unfortunately, like everything else across the country, the league was postponed in March that same year and didn’t recommence until June 2021 when restrictions on outdoor adult contact sport were relaxed.

Each team in the league adopted the name of one of the original 12 Host Cities for the EURO 2020 Championship, and the culmination of the tournament today in Sir Alex Ferguson Park, home of Harmony Row Football Club, saw the city of Glasgow claim the title, represented by local walking football team Glasgow Sport.

David Callaghan, a player from Linlithgow Rose who represented Host City Amsterdam, said: “At our age, you would never think about being part of EURO 2020, however this special tournament has allowed us to feel part of it and has been a brilliant opportunity for us over fifties.”

The Glasgow was presented the inaugural league trophy by former Scotland national team manager Craig Brown CBE, Rose Reilly MBE, Scottish footballer who won the Mundialito (an unofficial precursor to the Women’s World Cup) playing for Italy in 1984, and Councillor David McDonald, Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council, and Chair of Glasgow Life.

Craig said: “I always love attending walking football events, it’s amazing to see how making the game more accessible for older players can keep them engaged and involved with sport.

“We all know the benefits of keeping fit and healthy, and this only gets more important as we get older, so it’s very encouraging to see opportunities like this for over-50s to keep exercising their bodies and minds.”

Councillor McDonald said: “It was incredible to be here today and see how enthusiastic everyone was about taking part in the Walking Football Celebration League.

“From talking to the participants, I know that walking football was sorely missed by over-50s during the periods of lockdown across the country, so getting back in action is something which has been much-anticipated, and even better for the players to get involved in Glasgow’s EURO 2020 Host City status.”