Window on Wicklow Episode 18: Bray Walking Wanderers

Jamie Ryan was at the Carlisle Grounds to speak with the Bray Walking Wanderers, a social football team for men aged 55 and over

At the Carlisle Grounds, Jamie Ryan met the Bray Walking Wanderers, a social football group for men aged 55 and over that’s redefining how the game can be played later in life. Built around walking football, the sessions offer a low-impact way to stay active while placing just as much value on the social side - giving lads a reason to get out, meet regularly, and stay connected. Many of the players are returning to football after years away, finding that the slower pace still delivers the same enjoyment without the physical toll. Set against the backdrop of Bray Wanderers’ home ground, the group shows how grassroots football can remain accessible, inclusive, and genuinely important well into older age.