Walking football club marks decade of transforming lives at Oriam
One of Scotland’s largest walking football clubs has marked a decade of success playing at a leading sports facility, where it has helped to improve the health and wellbeing of hundreds over the years.
Oriam Walking Football (OWF) has been playing at Heriot-Watt University’s Oriam, where for the last ten years it has welcomed men and women of all abilities to play.
Recently, over 60 of its members gathered to mark this success at its annual summer gathering at Oriam, with players taking part in a round robin and raising £330 on the day for the club's 2026 charity partner, Care & Repair Edinburgh.
This is exactly what Oriam is about. Yes, we are home to some of Scotland's elite athletes, but we are just as committed to ensuring our facilities are open and accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
The celebrations also had a wider community impact: in the week leading up to the event, OWF held a food drive, and presented local charity Community for Food with a cheque for £500.
The club has fast become a vital pillar of the local community, helping older men and women build friendships and improve physical and mental wellbeing in a supportive and accessible environment.
Paul Rendall, club Chair, said: "Our club motto is 'more than a football club' and it sums up everything we've been building here at Oriam.
"We started as a small pilot in 2015 on the outdoor pitches at Balerno High School, where we wanted to bring walking football to this corner of Edinburgh.
“When Oriam opened its doors in 2016, we jumped at the chance to move indoors, and we've just continued to grow every single year since.
"We now have over 135 registered players, the oldest of whom is 84. Walking football here is open to women aged 40 and over and men aged 50 and over - some haven't kicked a ball in years, others have played all their lives. In 2025 alone, over 4,000 player places were taken up, and in the year to date we've already seen a 45% uplift on those numbers
"But what's been most incredible to witness over the past decade is the friendships that have formed and the camaraderie that's developed, along with the walking groups, social clubs and other activities that have grown up alongside the football.
“Oriam has been a gamechanger for us. Having world-class indoor facilities means we can play whatever the weather, and for a group of players in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, that accessibility makes all the difference. It's been remarkable to see the impact it has had on people's lives."
Over the past decade, the club has grown into a thriving community, with regular sessions and competitive fixtures taking place at Oriam’s world class indoor facilities, as well as providing a growing range of social activities.
Walking football is one of the UK’s fastest growing sports and is a slower-paced version of the game, where players must keep one foot on the ground at all times.
The ball must be kept below crossbar height, with no heading, no tackling from behind and a three-touch limit per player, rules designed to keep the game safe, fair and enjoyable for all.
OWF currently runs four open social sessions each week at Oriam and fields seven competitive teams across a range of age groups, including over-50s, over-60s, over-65s, over-70s and an over-40s ladies squad, who are currently unbeaten in their first ever league campaign.
Chris Sellar, Director of Delivery at Oriam, said: “When we first supported this pilot back in 2015, we could see the potential for walking football to make a real difference in the local community. What OWF has built over the past decade has surpassed all expectations.
"This is exactly what Oriam is about. Yes, we are home to some of Scotland's elite athletes, but we are just as committed to ensuring our facilities are open and accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
“OWF embodies that perfectly, proving that sport has no age limit and that staying active, whatever form that takes, can genuinely transform lives."
Beyond the football, OWF has built a thriving social hub, with a walking group, grub club, golf club, pool club, badminton, all growing organically from the club, ensuring members stay connected year-round regardless of whether they can play.
Charitable giving has also become central to the club's ethos. Last year, OWF chose Alzheimer Scotland as its charity partner for its tenth anniversary year, raising over £6,200 for the organisation.
It is a milestone that reflects the broader spirit of Oriam itself, which is also celebrating a decade of success since opening in 2016.
Born out of a £33 million national investment, Scotland's Sports Performance Centre is home to world-class facilities and counts the SFA, Scottish Rugby, and Heart of Midlothian as just some of the large elite organisations that uses its facilities.