Stanley Matthews and Jackie Milburn may have been been dominating the headlines when they were lads, but a group of over-75s are refusing to give up on the game they love as they come together to start a new team.
Local walking football team Norwich Soca Seniors (NSS) have unveiled an over-75s side as demand for places continues to soar.
The team, which currently has more than 100 members aged between 50 and 80, came together at its facility in Bowthorpe Park on Friday to officially unveil the new team.
“When I was a 20-something my elders would have regarded a walk on the beach with a cuppa as sufficient exercise and now we're playing football," said Gary Cockaday, a senior member of the club.
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"We compete in over 50, over 60, over 65, over 70 and soon over 75s. We’ve won the WFA National Cup in the over 70s twice.
"It’s a wonderful sport for body, soul and mind."
NSS has competed in both national and international tournaments, with the club's over-65s team even being crowned European Champions for the last two years.
Richard Graham, the Seniors' coach and physiotherapist, said the new team has been set up to cater for a growing number of members aged over 75.
"This is something more and more clubs across the country are doing," he said.
"Football is an art form.
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"It is a wonderful way to keep fit, make friends and enjoy a rekindling of those wonderful moments that come when you are working and playing with your buddies.
"It also gets us all out of the house and provides a great service to the local community.
"There's real comradery among the players and we have a great laugh.
"It's like one big family."
