Irish football veterans roll back the years to become World Champions

A GLASGOW native now living in Donegal helped coach the Republic of Ireland Veterans Football team to glory at the recent FIFA Super Vets World Championships in Copenhagen.

The tournament—better known as the International Super Masters Five-a-side World Cup—this year featured 13 sides and Jim Boyle helped to oversee a stunning victory for his Over-60s veteran side triumphing over Northern Ireland in the final 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Jim—who moved to Donegal in 2025—had been heavily involved in veterans’ football in Scotland since 2022, playing walking football and participating in many tournaments with his club Morton. He has even starred in a tournament in Leverkusen in Germany. A goalkeeper to trade—like his elder brother and father—he explains how he got involved in the veteran football scene in his new homeland.

“It was whilst playing with friends that I was asked what my Irish ancestry was and I explained that it was my great-grandparents who had fled the old country due to poverty and lack of employment, however, my family maintained their strong Irish identity,” Jim said. “I was then asked if I'd play a trial for the Republic of Ireland Walking Football team which I did and was successful in being selected to play in a tournament in Dublin. I have since played for Ireland several times in several countries in different competitions and have the caps to prove it!”

Unfortunately, arthritis has curtailed his ability to continue playing, but he has coached and refereed to fill the football vacuum. He was then asked by his friend and fellow walking football player, John O'Dwyer, if he would assist him in managing the Over-60s veteran side at this year’s FIFA Super Vets World Championships, given that he had helped out the year before at the same event in Zurich. That time, the ROI side came fifth, but Jim and John were determined to beat that finish and improve the team’s standing internationally.

“This is a running football competition for older men in the Over-60s and Over-65s age groups,” Jim explained. “It is five-a-sides but it’s against the best teams in the world. 13 countries took part over two days and there was some really strong opposition.

“John—a Birmingham native but with Tipperary parents—and I set about preparing our squad in the best possible with a get together in the hotel. The mood was very positive and we were confident that we’d give a good account of ourselves with John as the tactical genius and me supporting as the fitness and psychology coach. Over the two days last month we won 10 of our games, lost one and drew one, which put us at the top of the table, one point ahead of the holders, Northern Ireland.

“This meant a final against Northern Ireland for the trophy watched by all the other teams and a fairly large crowd of supporters. After a thrilling encounter the teams were locked at 1-1 so the game went to penalties, which we won 4-3 and were thus crowned FIFA Super Vets World Champions 2026 for Over-60s. Our Over- 65s didn’t fair quite as well, sadly, having reached the final last year. They finished sixth overall but they were highly competitive throughout.

“What is fantastic is that the two best teams in Over-60s veterans football come from the island of Ireland. That is a truly magnificent achievement.”

Jim is hoping that this brilliant result will encourage more older men and women to start playing walking football, because as he points out ‘the physical and mental health benefits are huge.’

“There are clubs here in Ireland, but it is in its infancy unless you go to Dublin or Cork or Galway where there are more clubs that are well-organised,” Jim said. “The FAI are keen to support the game as part of their grassroots programme, but at the moment we remain totally self-funded, which limits the capability of some to get involved on the bigger stage. Hopefully, through time, this will change. In the meantime, my local club, Finn Harps, are encouraging groups to set up all over Donegal and we hope in the future to organise local leagues and competitions.”