How a simple idea in 2021 brought Walking Football to Madeira Island and grew into an international community.
It all started with a simple idea
Back in 2020, Walking Football was already becoming popular in the UK and other parts of Europe. But here on Madeira Island, things were different.
When Phill Bellamy moved to Madeira in November 2020, he hoped to continue playing the sport he had enjoyed in England. To his surprise, he couldn’t find an existing Walking Football club anywhere on the island.
So, rather than give up the game, why not start something ourselves?
Together with his long-time friends Don Amaro and Wil de Jong, Phill decided to introduce Walking Football to Madeira.
And that is how Madeira Walking Football (MWF) began.
The beginning of Madeira Walking Football – 2021
In January 2021, Madeira Walking Football was established with a straightforward aim: to give people over 50 the opportunity to enjoy football again, stay physically active and make new friends.
Phill brought his years of football experience and his enthusiasm for Walking Football from England. Don Amaro and Wil de Jong helped turn the idea into a reality on Madeira.
It wasn’t simply a matter of getting a few people together with a football. A new activity had to be introduced, explained and promoted to people who, in many cases, had never heard of Walking Football before.
There was no established local Walking Football club for us to join, and no existing organised group we could simply take over.
We had to start from scratch.
But we believed Madeira was an ideal place for it. The island’s mild climate, its international community and the opportunity for older people to stay active throughout the year made Walking Football a natural fit.
More importantly, we wanted something that brought people together.
Not everyone wanted competitive football. Some had not played for decades. Others were simply looking for exercise, friendship and a good reason to get out of the house.
Walking Football offered all of that.
Bringing Walking Football to the local community
As the idea developed during 2021, Madeira Walking Football began making connections with people and organisations interested in encouraging healthy and active ageing.
One important early event took place on 14 July 2021, when RUTIS and the Universidade Sénior da Ribeira Brava organised a Walking Football demonstration for local senior university students.
Three members of the already-established Madeira Walking Football group took part.
This was an encouraging moment. Walking Football was beginning to reach beyond our original group and attract interest within Madeira’s local community.
Over time, other organisations, including RUTIS, ATARAM and local sports groups, also played an important part in developing and promoting Walking Football across the island.
We welcomed that growing interest. After all, the whole point of introducing the sport was to see more people enjoying it.
More than just football
What started as an idea gradually became a group of friends who genuinely enjoyed being together.
Our sessions in Ribeira Brava brought people from different backgrounds and nationalities onto the same pitch.
Some had played football all their lives. Others had hardly kicked a ball.
It didn’t matter.
Walking Football gave everyone the chance to participate at a different pace, without running or physical contact.
And it wasn’t just about what happened during the game.
There were the conversations afterwards, the laughter, the occasional missed goal and, of course, the friendships that continued long after the final whistle.
In Madeira, a little convívio is just as important as the football itself.
Growing beyond our original group
During 2022 and 2023, Madeira Walking Football continued to grow.
We took part in tournaments, welcomed new players, joined local events and gave demonstrations to introduce the sport to other communities.
One particularly enjoyable occasion was our Walking Football demonstration in Porto Moniz in May 2023, when local residents and visitors, including the mayor and other council representatives, were invited to join in.
These experiences showed us that Walking Football could appeal to far more people than we had first imagined.
It was also becoming clear that our members represented something special: a mixture of Madeirans, British, Dutch, Scottish, Canadian, American and other nationalities, all enjoying the same activity together.
Our club was becoming a genuinely international community.
A new name for a growing community – October 2024
On 28 October 2024, Madeira Walking Football (MWF) announced its new name:
Inter Madeira Walking Football (IMWF).
The rebranding was more than a change of name or logo.
It reflected what the original group had become: a friendly, international Walking Football community that brought together local residents, people who had made Madeira their home and visitors from abroad.
The word Inter represented that international connection.
Although our name changed, our original purpose remained the same.
We wanted people to enjoy football, look after their health, make friends and feel welcome, regardless of where they came from or how much football experience they had.
We were still the same group, with the same spirit, just with a name that better reflected the people who were now part of it.
Proud of our beginnings, happy to see the sport grow
Looking back, it is remarkable how much has changed since those early days in 2021.
What started because three friends could not find an existing Walking Football club on Madeira has become part of a much wider interest in the sport across the island.
We are proud of our role in introducing organised Walking Football to Madeira and of the people who helped get it started.
At the same time, we recognise the contribution of the many players, volunteers, organisations and clubs who have helped the sport grow since then.
Our story has never been only about football.
It is about friendship, keeping active as we get older and bringing people together, whether they were born on Madeira or arrived from somewhere else in the world.
And that is still what Inter Madeira Walking Football is all about.
Different backgrounds. Different nationalities. One shared enjoyment of Walking Football.
Our History – Timeline 2020 to 2024
November 2020 – The idea begins
Phill Bellamy moves to Madeira after several years of involvement in Walking Football in England. Unable to find an existing Walking Football club on the island, he discusses starting one with long-time friends Don Amaro and Wil de Jong.
January 2021 – Madeira Walking Football is founded
Madeira Walking Football (MWF) is established by Phill Bellamy, Don Amaro and Wil de Jong, with the aim of introducing organised Walking Football to Madeira Island and encouraging people over 50 to remain active and socially connected.
2 July 2021 – First warm-up documented
MWF publishes a video of its early warm-up activities in preparation for introducing Walking Football locally, with mobility trainer Emilio Troiano.
14 July 2021 – Local community demonstration
RUTIS and the Universidade Sénior da Ribeira Brava organise a Walking Football demonstration. Three members of Madeira Walking Football participate, showing that MWF is already active and involved in promoting the sport locally.
2021 – Walking Football sessions develop in Ribeira Brava
MWF establishes regular activity at the Centro Desportivo da Madeira, introducing more people to the sport and building a growing social group.
2022 – First tournaments and further development
MWF begins participating in organised tournaments and expands its regular activities in Ribeira Brava.
2022–2023 – Walking Football spreads across Madeira
MWF participates in the regional tournament circuit and community activities, including Porto Santo, Funchal, Paul do Mar, Machico and Porto Moniz.
2024 – A growing international identity
MWF continues bringing together people from Madeira and abroad, with members of different nationalities sharing their enjoyment of Walking Football.
28 October 2024 – Inter Madeira Walking Football is introduced
Madeira Walking Football (MWF) is officially rebranded as Inter Madeira Walking Football (IMWF), reflecting the international character and community spirit of the group.
The name changed, but the original idea continued: making football enjoyable, accessible and sociable for everyone involved.
Historical references and original publications
These links document important parts of the club’s early history:
- Interview with Phill Bellamy – Initiator of Madeira Walking Football (4 February 2022) – Phill explains why MWF was created and acknowledges the contribution of Don Amaro and Wil de Jong.
- Madeira Walking Football – First Warm-Up (2 July 2021) – Early preparation for introducing the sport.
- Walking Football – RUTIS and Universidade Sénior da Ribeira Brava (23 July 2021) – Documentation of the 14 July demonstration involving three MWF members.
- The Journey – 2022/2023 – Phill Bellamy’s account of the club’s growth and participation in regional events.
- Introducing Inter Madeira Walking Football (28 October 2024) – The original announcement of the rebranding.
This historical account is based on the club’s published archives, including contemporary reports and retrospective accounts by its founders.
