Stuart Langworthy, one of the driving forces behind the ongoing success of walking football in this country, is about to realise another big ambition.

The 58-year-old, who is manager of England’s over-60s walking football team, has been called up to play for England’s over-50s walking football team.

And it’s a pretty decent game too because England are playing Greece on the island of Crete.

“It’s my first call-up,” said Langworthy, a forward, who was speaking to The Local Answer just ahead of boarding a plane from Birmingham airport.

“It’s another dream come true.”

The game will take place in Rethymno on the north coast of Crete and there should be a very decent crowd in attendance.

“We’re playing before the Leisure Leagues World Cup final,” explained Langworthy, who has done so much for Abbeymead Rovers over the years. “They’ve set up a temporary ground on the beach. We’re playing on an astroturf pitch and we’ve been invited to play an exhibition game.”

England’s over-60s walking football team are also playing a match so Langworthy will clearly be a very busy man because he will have to manage them as well, a job he thoroughly enjoys.

He’s also currently interim manager of the women’s walking football teams at both over-40 and over-50 age groups and when he’s back from Crete – the day-time temperature out there is currently around 28C – he’s got an important date in Manchester.

“It’s the launch of next year’s Walking Football World Cup on 4th November,” he said. “It’s taking place at the Etihad Academy Stadium which is where the tournament will be held on the last weekend of May 2020.

“We’re hoping eight teams will play in both the over-50s and over-60s tournaments.”

The Leisure Leagues World Cup final played between teams of six-a-side took place in Portugal last year – organisers built a temporary ground in in the main square in Lisbon.