It’s the sport that’s taken the nation by storm.

Now walking footballers in one part of Lanarkshire will have a real spring in their stride – by combining the beautiful game with the latest step-monitoring technology.

The meeting of worlds comes as South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership (SLH&SCP) is helping Biggar man Rikki Duncan to swell the ranks of a new local team as part of its Building and Celebrating Communities.

Rikki, a retired care worker, says he’s had a life-long love of sport for its ability to bring people together. And he’s now on the lookout for new players to join in what promises to be a truly footloose version of the beautiful game.

“The world’s full of strangers until you shake their hand,” said Rikki who will run the team independently.

Rikki plans to hold his first games at Biggar High School on Tuesday evenings when he has enough people to play.

All willing participants will be issued with a free pedometer with the option to opt into the latest in telehealth technology to monitor their steps.