Walking Football in Reading.

Walking football in Reading is one of the best ways to stay in the game when full-pace football isn't an option anymore. It's exactly what it sounds like — football played at walking pace, with no running and no contact — and it's built for people who love the sport but whose joints, age or recent injury make the running version a step too far.

I'm Tommy Rowlands, a personal trainer and coach based in Reading, Berkshire, and I run walking football sessions at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre. The sessions are warm, welcoming and ego-free — a mix of over-50s, people coming back from injury, and anyone who simply wants to move well and enjoy football without the impact.

Walking football is genuinely good for you. The controlled pace keeps it low-impact on knees, hips and ankles, while still building cardiovascular health, mobility, balance and coordination. You get the social side of a team sport, the enjoyment of the game, and a real workout — all without the toll of running. It's one of the most underrated ways to stay active in Reading.

Sessions are coached, not just turned on and left. I keep things organised, safe and fun — proper warm-ups, sensible pacing, and a focus on enjoying the game rather than chasing a result. Whether you played for years or haven't kicked a ball in decades, you'll fit straight in. The standard is friendly, the atmosphere is inclusive, and nobody gets left out.

If you're recovering from injury or working back to fitness, walking football is a brilliant stepping stone — low-impact enough to protect your joints, active enough to rebuild your engine. With your physio or healthcare professional's go-ahead, it's a great way to stay moving during rehab and ease back toward full activity.

Sessions run at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Reading, with local venues used too, so it's weather-proof and year-round. If you're in Lower Earley, Earley, Woodley, Winnersh, Wokingham or anywhere across the Reading area, you're close enough to come and play. Get in touch for the current session times and I'll point you to the right one.

No experience needed, no kit requirements beyond trainers and comfortable clothes, and absolutely no pressure. Just turn up, walk, pass, and enjoy football the way it was meant to be — with a smile on your face. Book a free consultation or message me to find out when the next walking football session in Reading is.