The 50-year-old amateur footballer whose videos inspire thousands
English amateur footballer Craig Kirby, playing on after the tragic death of his son, has become a social media sensation with videos showing him still performing on the pitch at 50. His story has become a source of inspiration for many who feel too old for sport.
In Rochdale, northern England, 50-year-old Craig Kirby, who runs a small gym above a church, has become an unlikely social media star. His 'Football at 50' accounts on TikTok and Instagram each have around 30,000 followers, with some videos reaching millions of views.
Kirby plays for amateur club Whitworth Valley, and highlight clips filmed by his wife Lindsay show his movement and technique on the pitch. His most popular video, showing a match against Old Rivingtonians, has been viewed nearly 2.9 million times.
As a teenager, Kirby had trials at Blackburn Rovers but chose to follow his father into the army instead. Opportunities later arose at Cambridge United and Kettering, but family circumstances meant he did not pursue them.
A difficult period and football's role
In December 2023, Kirby's 20-year-old son Sebastian, who was serving in the Royal Air Force in Norway, died by suicide. Following the tragedy, Kirby considered quitting football, but his wife encouraged him to keep playing and offered to film his matches. They initially expected only a small circle of family and friends to watch, but the first video passed a million views.
Kirby speaks openly about grief and mental health, encouraging others not to be afraid to talk about their struggles. He says many followers have shared how failing to cope with loss led them into harmful habits, costing them their homes or families.
This season Kirby plays for Vauxhall Motors in the Cheshire Veterans League, where he will face former professionals including ex-Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse. He has also been called up to England's over-50s team and hopes to win his first official cap in Thailand later this year.
Kirby stresses that young players should retain their love of the game rather than focus solely on a professional pathway, and hopes his example encourages others over 50 to keep playing sport.
