A “walking football” team for the over-50s set up in Stonebridge that walked all over their opponents at the Winter Nations Cup in Cardiff is helping tackle “health inequalities” in Brent's Black community.

Walking football is being used to deal with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and mental health problems which are more common than in the general population.

But it is also scoring on the world football scene, with its Caribbean players having beaten the national teams of Australia, Wales and England to be crowned Cup champions.

One team-member was even named “most valuable player of the tournament” at the recent championships.

The players, who originate from Jamaica, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago, have the Mayor of Brent Orlene Hylton among their fans and regularly seen at matches and training sessions.

Two Stonebridge teams of over-50s and over-60s have put the West Indies on the map as one of the world’s most formidable squads in this fast-growing sport.

They include members and staff from the Jason Roberts Foundation in Stonebridge Park and from the Brent Health Matters programme who tackle not just the football on the pitch but also health issues off the field.

“Walking football is bringing men together from the Black community to be active and look after their health,” goalkeeper Andre Nolan said.

“It has provided a space to share experiences — and is even better when you win!”

The game offers a low-impact cardio-vascular workout to help improve physical and mental health fitness.

The Jason Roberts Foundation has been given cash over the last three years by Brent Health Matters to run seven events combining sports with NHS health checks and getting more men to register at GP surgeries.

The foundation is working with the Walking Football Caribbean Association to expand the game among men and women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s to help deal with health inequalities in the Black community.

Anyone 50 and over can play walking football, whatever their background, with details on the “jasonrobertsfoundation.org” and “walkingfootballcaribbean.org” websites.