Two teams of walking footballers from Watford were joined by a former England international as they kicked off a weekend of footy fun in the sun.

The Football Association’s weekend of walking football festivals was launched in Barnet on Friday July 7, as more than 80 players from 12 different teams came together for three hours of football and football-related entertainment.

Two teams from Watford were represented at the festival, featuring a guest appearance by former Watford, AC Milan and England striker Luther Blissett.

Blissett, who is also a Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK ambassador, said: “We had a fantastic day at the Middlesex FA Walking Football Festival and saw some great skills on show at Powerleague Barnet.

“It’s always very important that, whatever age you are, you keep yourself active. Not only are the Walking Football festivals taking place during July a great way to do so, but they also raise awareness of serious health issues amongst the older generation.”

The festival at Powerleague Barnet was the first of 30 all over England last weekend to raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund, which supports research into bowel cancer.

Powerleague Barnet is the home base of RIP WFC, a walking football club set up three years ago. When it began games were often four or five a side but now the one-hour session attracts between 20 and 28 players each week.

“We have players in their fifties, sixties, seventies and even one or two in their early eighties,” said Martin Jones, one of RIP’s organisers.

“Many of us have knee or other joint problems as well as a fair number with a range of debilitating conditions such as lung disease, Parkinson’s and cancer. The two main rules are no running at any time and don’t tackle too hard.”