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LOCAL LIFE
MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Alive and Kicking
Alive‘ n Kicking Hills team welcome Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne to one of their games. by Lorna Gordon
If you ever used jumpers for goal posts to enjoy a kick about with mates, played for your school or local team and look back on those moments and wish you could still play football, then there’ re is a team that might be right up your street!
At 8.30 every Tuesday mornings at Ted Horwood Reserve in Baulkham Hills you can find a group of seniors aged 60 to 80 and over, lacing up their boots and getting ready to prove that age is not a barrier to staying fit and active and enjoying a sport that you are passionate about.
Alive‘ n Kicking Hills is a local over- 60s soccer group that meets every week to offer a fun, safe and low-cost way for seniors to keep playing the game they love. Since launching in August 2025, the program has grown from just eight players to around 24 regular participants, with more joining each week.
The Hills Shire Council is supporting Alive‘ n Kicking Hills with access to local playing fields and sponsorship to help keep costs low. Mayor, Dr Michelle Byrne, said Alive and Kicking Hills was a great local initiative and one Council was more than happy to support.
“ Programs like Alive‘ n Kicking Hills remove barriers to participation and make it easy for older residents to look after their physical and mental health. Staying active at any age is important, and this program proves it’ s never too late to get involved in sport.”
For co-founders Bill Renton and Keith Pierce, the idea was simple, to keep people moving, laughing and enjoying football well into later life. Bill and Keith decided to give it a try after getting an email
from the long running Alive n’ Kicking in Northbridge, which has over 100 players joining in its games. The email for the over 60’ s kickaround had Bill say, that’ s just up my alley.
“ It’ s about staying active and having a laugh,” Bill said.“ There’ s no heavy contact, no pushing and no fouls, just running around, keeping fit and catching up with mates over coffee afterwards. To be back playing football with a group of likeminded guys that could play a bit, I love it. The camaraderie is great. We really enjoy our hour and a half together and it can’ t be bad for our health.”
At 69, B is still playing competitively, and he represented Alive n’ Kicking at the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast, earning a silver medal in the over- 65s division before going on to win gold with the Canberra Old Boys the following year. Alive n’ Kicking is a way for him to enjoy playing with others near his age, remain fit and stay social.
The friendships formed over the past few months have already led to the formation of an over-55s team set to play for Baulkham Hills FC in the 2026 competition. Discussions are also underway about entering an over-65s team in future masters events.
Alive n’ Kicking Hills is open to anyone aged 60 and over, with players ranging from their early 60s to their late 70s and beyond. Many participants are retired but still keen to stay fit, social and involved in their local community.
Residents interested in joining Alive and Kicking Hills or learning more about the program can contact The Hills Shire Council or email alivenkickinghills @ gmail. com
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THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 129 // MARCH 2026 11