Albion stars took a step in the right direction towards a slower pace of life during a unique football tournament.

Seagulls manager Chris Hughton and Albion legends Guy Butters and Danny Cullip were among those taking part in a walking football tournament which has no room for pacey wingers or long balls over the top.

The five-team tournament was held at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre in Lancing on Wednesday to mark the rising success and participation of the format across Sussex – thanks to the backing of Albion In The Community (AITC).

Players aged over 50 and of all abilities are taking up walking football in Worthing, Adur, Littlehampton and Mid Sussex under the tutelage of AITC coaches at regular organised sessions.

Organisers say the game, which prohibits players from running, has great health and wellbeing benefits.

 

 

Manager Chris Hughton said it was great to see walking football giving an opportunity for players who might not have played for a number of years to get out and play again.

He said: “Out on the pitch you can obviously see there’s a real temptation to run.

“If it looks like somebody is through, you up the pace, that’s the temptation.

“The competitive edge is still there.”

AITC coach Guy Butters said he curbed his natural instincts during the walking football game, including putting any pressure on referees.

He said: “It helps to hone technique, you can’t just stick it into a corner.

“And it helps to make it a level playing field because nobody can run.”

Mark Strevens was part of the Brighton and Hove Albion team taking on teams from Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic, Wimbledon and Portsmouth.

The 56-year-old, from Lancing, has been playing two sessions of walking football a week at Lancing Manor leisure centre since September.

He said: “The game is all about touch, you can’t run past people, you can’t run off the ball.

“It’s a real mix of abilities, we have some who used to play county football, but most of us haven’t played for years.

“Personally it’s been great for me, you get all the banter and I have been able to get fit again after suffering a bad shoulder injury a few years back.”

For more information, email chris.day@albioninthecommunity.org.uk