The buzz, the laughter... new team-mates with a new purpose - MATT BARLOW shines a light on the wonderful world of walking football
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With a backdrop of palms and a hint of tropical warmth it might pass for a scene from Cocoon, the classic sci-fi movie from 1985 about a group of aged friends rejuvenated by aliens who live underwater off the Florida coast. This is Coventry though and, from the evidence to hand, alien-free. Those present are mostly senior men, mostly cancer patients, all wrapped up to beat the damp chill of an indoor dome on a wintry morning.
![[The games attract players of all ages and offer many a chance to re-engage with their beloved sport]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/29/21/93566723-0-image-a-53_1735507174059.jpg)
They are all on the move,coupling vintage football shirts with hi-vis flashes of modern fitness gear as they shuffle around the 3G surface. They are all buzzing with anticipation, smiling and laughing, emitting the golden glow of a secret uncovered. This was the magic I had been promised by a friend who has taken up walking football, rejoiced in its benefits and advised me to take a closer look at its quiet rise in popularity. It became one of the most enjoyable and uplifting assignments of 2024.
![[Former England international Chris Waddle has been known to play the sport for his local club]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/29/21/93566951-0-image-a-57_1735507883682.jpg)
Most involved offer a variation of the same story. The idea seemed a bit naff, but once they started playing they never wanted to stop. Former Coventry City players David Busst and Dave Bennett run several sessions each week. Busst is 57 and has led Sky Blues in the Community since his professional playing career came to an end after a sickening leg break against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 1996. Bennett, a goal hero of Coventry’s 1987 FA Cup win, is now 65 and combining ambassadorial and community duties for the Championship club.
![[Busst, who saw his promising career ended prematurely through injury, plays in a competitive league for over 50s]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/29/21/93566719-0-image-a-54_1735507249789.jpg)
