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Immense pride as Ken makes his debut as an international referee
Cyril Ray Lewis30 Oct - 18:08
A personal journey that establishes Ken as a first-class referee
Recently Ken shared his story with me of how he took up refereeing and how an invitation to referee at an England training camp earlier this year led him to officiating in his first full international match on 26th October between the England and Wales over 40s walking football teams. This was quickly followed up by an invitation to officiate at the Walking Football Association World Masters in Swansea, Wales, in August 2026.
Not one for the limelight or attention, Ken likes to just get on with things with no fuss. However, I felt Ken’s story is an inspirational one that should be shared with us all and it just shows what is possible. After a bit of convincing Ken finally wrote some words:
“After breaking my hip in 2023, it seemed my walking football career as a goalkeeper was over. However, following a successful hip replacement and a lot of hard work in physiotherapy, the lure of returning to the pitch proved too strong to resist. I decided to come back, not as a goalkeeper this time, but as an outfield player.
During my recovery, I also discovered a new aptitude for refereeing our walking football sessions. It turned out I wasn’t too bad at it, and it greatly supported my rehabilitation. Word of my refereeing seemed to filter through to the Birmingham County League organisers, who invited me to train formally as a referee for league matches and friendlies. Before long, this became a regular and enjoyable part of my routine.
Earlier this year, I was honoured to be scouted by the Vice Chairman of the Walking Football Association to attend England training camps at Castle Vale. There, I refereed practice sessions, and soon after, I received an incredible invitation, to officiate my first full international match between England Over-40s and Wales Over-40s at Castle Vale, Birmingham, on the 26th of October. As you can imagine, it was a moment of immense pride and a truly unforgettable experience.
The following day, I received an unexpected and thrilling call from the Chairman of the Walking Football Association. The Welsh Football Association, who had been present at the international, confirmed that I had met the standard required to represent England as one of two referees selected to officiate at next year’s Walking Football Association World Masters in Swansea, Wales, from August 13th–17th, 2026.
Needless to say, I was overjoyed and extremely proud of how far I’ve come.
My heartfelt thanks go to my fellow members of the Coventry & District Walking Football Club for their support and friendship, and to my wife, Rev. Dee, for being my rock and constant encourager throughout this footballing journey.”
Not one for the limelight or attention, Ken likes to just get on with things with no fuss. However, I felt Ken’s story is an inspirational one that should be shared with us all and it just shows what is possible. After a bit of convincing Ken finally wrote some words:
“After breaking my hip in 2023, it seemed my walking football career as a goalkeeper was over. However, following a successful hip replacement and a lot of hard work in physiotherapy, the lure of returning to the pitch proved too strong to resist. I decided to come back, not as a goalkeeper this time, but as an outfield player.
During my recovery, I also discovered a new aptitude for refereeing our walking football sessions. It turned out I wasn’t too bad at it, and it greatly supported my rehabilitation. Word of my refereeing seemed to filter through to the Birmingham County League organisers, who invited me to train formally as a referee for league matches and friendlies. Before long, this became a regular and enjoyable part of my routine.
Earlier this year, I was honoured to be scouted by the Vice Chairman of the Walking Football Association to attend England training camps at Castle Vale. There, I refereed practice sessions, and soon after, I received an incredible invitation, to officiate my first full international match between England Over-40s and Wales Over-40s at Castle Vale, Birmingham, on the 26th of October. As you can imagine, it was a moment of immense pride and a truly unforgettable experience.
The following day, I received an unexpected and thrilling call from the Chairman of the Walking Football Association. The Welsh Football Association, who had been present at the international, confirmed that I had met the standard required to represent England as one of two referees selected to officiate at next year’s Walking Football Association World Masters in Swansea, Wales, from August 13th–17th, 2026.
Needless to say, I was overjoyed and extremely proud of how far I’ve come.
My heartfelt thanks go to my fellow members of the Coventry & District Walking Football Club for their support and friendship, and to my wife, Rev. Dee, for being my rock and constant encourager throughout this footballing journey.”
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