At Accrington Stanley Community Trust, we cater towards all ages. We understand football is for anyone, no matter your experience or your skillset. Above all, we believe football is a fun, vibrant activity which takes place best in a community setting. Therefore, we are very proud to run our Over 50s sessions every Friday.

Our Over 50s sessions evolved from our previous Walking Football sessions as participants said they would prefer a more competitive atmosphere. Although, everyone is welcome to attend and play the game at their own pace. The session provides a safe and controlled environment for older players to carry on their involvement in football and still enjoy the game they love.

Enjoyment of the game is one benefit of taking part in these sessions but maintaining your physical health is another great reason to get involved. Physically active people have a reduced risk of serious disease and premature death, with positive psychological effects another benefit of playing football.

Ergin is a longstanding member of our sessions, initially deciding to give them a go to continue a love of playing football which has continued for over five decades.

He certainly hasn’t regretted this decision, explaining: “I’ve been playing football since I was 17 or 18 and just wanted to carry on. All the people who attend are great guys, there is no malicious football here, and we all come to enjoy ourselves. I highly recommend it, come down and play with us even if it’s only for half an hour or watch from the side and have a chat.”