A program created by Richmond United FC in partnership with the Richmond Seniors Centre and the city parks department to encourage 55-year-old+ seniors to play walking soccer at Minoru Oval will continue after its initial 8-week run, due to popular demand from the participants.
The one-hour sessions, which have been taking place at 10am Wednesdays and are free of charge due to funding from local RUFC sponsors Sandhar Trucking, involve a low impact variation on soccer rules, where tackling, heading, running, and any balls above waist-height are not allowed.
“We keep it happy and safe,” says RUFC coach Chris Parry, who initiated the campaign, adding, “We’ve had to remind some folks that, ‘hey, you’re 78, let’s slow it down a little so you don’t do yourself an injury,’ but otherwise it’s been genuinely heartening to see so many people, men and women of all ages and skill levels and backgrounds, making new friends and getting out into the sun.”
The spark for the program came when Parry experienced health issues in 2024, that left him on his back for several months, and with low standing blood pressure and low energy when he got back on his feet.
“You really don’t know when a health problem will hit you out of the blue, but the worst thing you can do is succumb to it by being less active,” he said. “My doctor was very clear that I needed to get walking as a starting point to recovery, but I tend to walk more if I’m chasing a ball or a person.”
Parry says meeting local Olympic gold medallist Evan Dunfee provided encouragement.
“He reminded me that walking can be competitive rather than passive, and that there are a lot of people who quit sports when they injure a knee or a hip and assume that chapter of their life is over. We’re proving the opposite is true.”
Parry says the ‘terror of the pitch’ in Richmond walking soccer is Ming, a goalie when he played as a child who is now in his late 70’s, and enjoys any excuse to throw himself around.
“Ming is a legend, he tells me his wife reminds him to be careful before he comes out, but once he sees a soccer ball his mind wants to do things his body hasn’t done for a long time. He just loves it.”
There are a few high level players registered in the program, including one who played professionally a decade ago in China, but the core of the group haven’t played since they were kids, and welcome the chance to ease back into the game.
“I talked to a woman last week who said she hadn’t played soccer since she was in elementary school in the early 1960’s, but it didn’t take long for her to catch up,” says Parry. “Others have never played, but the group has been really good at welcoming everyone, teaching them some skills, and making sure there’s a place for them.”
The session Wednesday was won by team yellow after Tish, a senior who has never payed soccer before, scored the winning goal.
“It’s possible one or two defenders helped her have that moment, I cannot confirm or deny,” laughed Parry. “That’s the nature of this group, everyone is there because that’s how you build something that’s self sustaining. You show up, even when it’s hot or you’re tired, and then you encourage people to bring their friends, their wives, even their kids, you encourage them on the field, you share knowledge and language and make new friends, and no matter the score it always ends with ‘next goal wins’.”
One thing that was unexpected is how people from different cultures have begun blending, teaching each other their language, and breaking down cultural barriers.
“The first day, it was clear the Asian women were over in one group, the white men in another, the Chinese men were over on the side and I worried that we may struggle to blend everyone in, but as soon as the ball is on the ground, everyone is on the same team and learning each other’s names. As the weeks have gone on, now they’re learning each others soccer phrases.”
The growing demand for more has moved Richmond United to expand the program, with the hope being to keep it going through July and, eventually, to begin an evening program for seniors who don’t have schedule availability during the day.
Reporter