Never Too Old For Football

Thomas Sänger, Germany

Thomas Sänger is a 59 year-old German walking footballer, playing in his home city of Wuppertal, Germany for his local walking football team SSV Germania Wuppertal 1900 e.V.. His photos show how football is for all ages to play, and emphasise the camaraderie and community that comes from playing football together.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?

My name is Thomas Sänger, I will soon be 60 years old and have lived my whole life in Wuppertal, a city in West Germany. Playing football is one of my earliest memories. During my childhood we always met on our street after our homework was done to play, often until nightfall. I joined my first football club at 8 years old. I was incredibly proud to be allowed to take the field for the first time with my team SSV Germania 1900 e.V. Wuppertal.

My father also took me to watch games of the local club Wuppertaler SV. When I  went to my first Bundesliga match, I became a fan of Borussia Mönchengladbach.

During my teenage years my interest shifted towards track and field, and it took me until I was 19 years old to play football in another team again. We always emphasised fun and the community, and there were no leagues for these games. They were just for fun.

Then about 8 years ago my body could not keep up anymore, due to one of several injuries. But something was missing, the ball, the activity, the camaraderie of the team. I was experiencing  withdrawal and simply watching games did not solve anything. But now I have discovered Walking Football.

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning?

The photos are of my Walking Football team SSV Germania Wuppertal 1900 e.V. , taken in Freudenberg, Wuppertal, North Rhein-Westphalia, Germany.

I tried to show the passion we have for the sport and our community. We like to talk nonsense, drink beer, and do stupid stuff. But we are also looking out for each other and respecting each other. We go home with a smile on our faces.

There is a photo of two men sitting on the bench against the wall. It shows you are never too old to enjoy football and be with your team.

Everyone enjoys playing with the ball. However, damaged knees, hips or feet make normal football impossible. It is age that limits the opportunities to play. It does not matter how well you (used to) play football - the oldest player on the team was even a German football champion.

What role does football play in your community and German society?

People in Germany are very privileged. Every town has its own football field and at least one team. The national men and women teams are successful and every tenth German plays football in a club.

In most situations you will have the opportunity to talk about football, the media reports about it daily and apart from clubs there are many other opportunities to play. Football is an integral part of our society. On the field or in the pub. In villages or in cities.

Football contains simple communication which even succeeds when nobody is speaking the same language. This turns the sport into something that anyone can do and therefore it also becomes important for our society. Even though it might feel bad to be the reserve goalkeeper for a season and you might not be the star player, it is still a game where everyone deserves respect. Camaraderie and respect are integral aspects of any community and of course society. You can only win together.

Football helps integrate people, is important for the early development of children and strengthens camaraderie across society.

Why is walking football so important for the community who play?

Every Wednesday evening, men with lots of life experience gather to do what they enjoy: play football and have fun. Of course, fun and the community are always emphasised. Therefore we also have some tea breaks (with beer) and every now and then after a match we eat some “stadium sausages”. On the field, everyone celebrates success together and looks out for each other, so no one gets injured. 

Nevertheless, the ambition to strive for victory is ever prevalent. Oftentimes the results of the matches have already been forgotten by the time we leave, but in the end that is not important. We have reached our goal and had lots of fun.

What does football mean to you?

I always look forward to watching football, whether as a fan in the big stadiums, as a father observing his sons’ games, or watching on TV. Football fields have always had a certain charm for me. These charms drive me to visit these fields, at times even abandoned “lost places”, to take photos of them. I can not help but try to capture the magic and atmosphere of these places, the faded cheers, the fascination for football.

What is the future of football in Germany?

Football in Germany is going in two different directions. 

Professional football is in a secure position because of the faster, more tactical and athletic elements. The millions of dollars flowing into it are perverting this scenario, however. The barely concealed hypocrisy of the clubs and the imposed but barely abided Financial Fair Play can only infuriate you. Be that as it may, on the field, high performance sport is still fascinating.

In the amateur game it is of utmost importance to preserve structures. Less and less young people want to become referees, for example. This risks being able to play in lower leagues. The coronavirus pandemic also dealt a heavy blow to many clubs. 

It is incredibly important to increase funding for the amateur game to preserve the integrity of the sport. Without all of our many volunteers, Germany would experience a decline in people playing football. We need more funding as it is incredibly hard to keep the popular sport football available to everyone who loves it.