A team of AFC Wimbledon walking footballers could not topple the defending champions at a county-wide tournament last week.

Walking football is a slower-paced version of the game aimed primarily but not exclusively at over-55s to support an active lifestyle and keep them in the sport.

It’s non-contact and anyone that runs or jogs while the ball is in play will be penalised with a free-kick awarded to the other team.

More than 70 players from across the county formed teams representing each different walking football session that the Surrey FA run or support.

Sides from Epsom, Sutton, Croydon, Guildford, Woking, Walton, Waddon, Caterham and a team from AFC Wimbledon descended on the Xcel Leisure Complex in Walton-on-Thames. 

Croydon went into the competition as defending champions, and it fell to Walton to beat them 4-2 and claim the crown for themselves.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Up starts: AFC Wimbledon's walking football team

Andy Cox, from Croydon and part of the team that lost in the final, said: “I retired in 2012 but wanted to keep active – I never envisaged at 65 I’d start playing football again and it’s brilliant. ”

Mark Blythe, session coordinator for Walton, added: “It’s a lot of fun and there’s some great banter flying around when we go for a coffee after each session.

"I have one player who hadn’t kicked a ball in 30 years and is now back playing – it’s the highlight of his week.”

For more information on walking football, go to surreyfa.com/players/walking-football.