They’re walking tall at Ayr United.
And while Scott Brown’s side are making waves in the Championship, a growing band of players are rolling back the years in a rapidly expanding form of the game.
Walking Football has become a hugely popular format for players, mostly aged north of 50, to stay involved in the sport they love.
At Ayr, a range of sides are put through their paces each week by Walking Football maverick, Andy McInnes, who has helped to oversee a successful expansion of the game in the black and white colours.
Ayr’s recent Champions League trophy win for their over 70s team was just the latest in an ever growing list of successes, explains Andy, who has up to 100 players on his books.
“I can have anything up to 80 players training each week,” he explains as he puts one particularly competitive group through their paces at Shoot Soccer.
“I think people from the outside look at Walking Football as a bit of a laugh among older folk, but it has become far more than that.
“The game is about inclusion and maintaining both mental and physical health at a time when guys maybe think their involvement with the game is gone.”
Former South Ayrshire Council leader, Douglas Campbell, and Ayr United club chaplain, Jim Smith, are among those contesting the five-a-side in front of the Post cameras.
Andy adds: “The great thing is we get people from all walks of life – men and women – and the social side of it is what it’s all about.
“And contrary to what people may think, we also have younger ones who join in. It’s a sport that’s really going places.”
Anyone interested in getting involved with the Walking Football sessions should contact Andy on 07984 326056.