England Walking Football Reflects on a Memorable Nations Cup in Rome

England Walking Football had the pleasure of travelling to Rome to take part in the 2025 Nations Cup, graciously hosted by Italy. The tournament brought together teams from across Europe for a weekend of high-quality football, sportsmanship, and camaraderie. England were proud to be represented by a women’s over 40s team and three men’s teams in the over 50s, over 60s, and over 70s categories.

We extend our warmest thanks to the host nation, Italy, for organising such a well-run and welcoming tournament. The setting was fantastic, the hospitality even better, and the spirit of the competition was everything we love about walking football. Friendships were formed, memories were made, and the game was played in the right way throughout.

For England, many of our players were based near the venue, which gave the tournament a slightly more familiar feel. It was our first international tournament of 2025, and it set a high standard for the rest of the year. All our teams conducted themselves with professionalism, and we were honoured to receive compliments from other nations about the way our players carried themselves both on and off the pitch.

Women's Over 40s Summary

England Women approached the over 40s tournament with a mix of experience and enthusiasm — including three players over 60 and, for some, it was their first time meeting the new manager and assistant. Despite that, the team gelled quickly and made a strong impression both on and off the pitch.

Their team spirit, commitment, and unity stood out throughout the weekend. An opening draw against Wales set the tone, followed by a solid win over Poland. A scrappy defeat to Ireland wrapped up Day 1, but the performance level remained high.

On the second day, England were narrowly beaten by the eventual champions France and hosts Italy. Yet the scorelines didn’t reflect how evenly matched the games were — England showed real quality and battled toe-to-toe with both sides.

The team finished fourth overall, but the progress and cohesion displayed signal real promise for the future across all age categories. It was a proud and encouraging start to 2025.

Women’s Over 40s Results (4th Overall):

• England 2–2 Wales (Redston pen, Holsworth)
• England 1–0 Poland (Holsworth)
• England 2–4 Ireland (Redston pen, Holsworth)
• England 0–2 France
• England 2–3 Italy (Holsworth 2)

Men's Over 50s Summary

Our over 50s squad put in a strong showing, narrowly missing out on a runners-up finish behind a talented Italian side. The highlight — and perhaps the heartbreak — came in the match against Italy, where England led 2-1 with just 30 seconds to play. Two infringements gave Italy a late penalty, which they converted to level the match 2-2. It turned out to be the only points Italy dropped in the entire tournament.

There were more near-misses in a highly competitive group. England had the lead against France but slipped to a 2-1 loss after two late errors, and a 2-2 draw with Hungary after another late goal added to the list of "what-ifs." Still, the team showed quality throughout, with notable performances including crucial penalty saves from Ian Wilkinson and Carl Clinton.

Over 50s Results (4th Overall):

• England 2–2 Republic of Ireland (Marsden 2)
• England 3–0 Wales (Clarke 2, Marsden)
• England 0–1 Switzerland
• England 2–2 Italy (Clarke, Marsden)
• England 2–1 Poland (Clarke, Marsden)
• England 1–2 France (Marsden)
• England 2–2 Hungary (Marsden, Maxwell)

Men's Over 60s Summary

The Over 60s produced a competitive and committed showing throughout the tournament, delivering strong performances in a tightly contested group. There were impressive wins against Switzerland, Wales, and Ireland, as well as two hard-fought draws against Hungary and hosts Italy.

There were also narrow defeats to Poland and France. The team’s defensive resilience stood out, particularly in goal, where Ken and Rob each made two crucial penalty saves over the course of the weekend — keeping England in games at key moments.

The squad showed real balance, composure under pressure, and plenty of quality on the ball. A strong base has been laid for future competitions, and there’s every reason to feel optimistic heading into the rest of the season.

Over 60s Results (4th Overall):

• England 2–2 Hungary
• England 2–3 Poland
• England 4–0 Switzerland
• England 2–1 Wales
• England 1–2 France
• England 2–1 Republic of Ireland
• England 2–2 Italy

Men's Over 70s Summary

The Over 70s had a testing tournament on some very agricultural grass pitches, which made fluid play difficult across the two-day competition. Penalties were a recurring theme as teams wrestled with some unusual interpretations of the rules. Despite the challenges, the squad — a blend of Over 70 and Over 75 players — gave a spirited account of themselves.

Manager Simon Atherfold had the task of balancing and rotating the squad effectively, aiming to get the most out of a group still finding its rhythm. There were flashes of quality throughout, particularly from Walker, who converted five penalties, and from Moss and Drinkell, who each found the net as well.

A fifth-place finish overall gives both players and coaching staff plenty to build on. The potential is clear, and the group left Rome with a shared sense of motivation to push further next time around.

Over 70s Results (5th Overall):

• England 0–1 Switzerland
• England 3–3 Wales (Walker pen, Drinkell, Moss)
• England 1–3 Republic of Ireland (Walker pen)
• England 3–3 France (Walker 2 pens, Moss)
• England 0–1 Italy

A Weekend to Remember

As the final whistle blew on Sunday and presentations were made, the spirit of the Nations Cup shone through. Every nation displayed outstanding sportsmanship, and we were reminded again what makes walking football so special.

Later that evening, the England teams gathered together for a well-earned team meal. It was a moment to unwind, to laugh, and to talk openly about what we can take forward from the weekend. There’s plenty to be proud of — and plenty to build on.

It was, without a doubt, a thoroughly enjoyable weekend. We’re honoured to wear the shirt, to compete with passion, and to represent England in such great company.

Here’s to more tournaments, more memories, and more moments like these in 2025. Grazie, Italy — until next time.

Canale 10 - TV Regione Lazio: Calcio camminato, allo Stadio della Farnesina si è tenuta la "Nations Cup" - Canale 10