If Stuart Langworthy has a little tear in his eye as he looks back on 2023, then he can surely be forgiven.

The 62-year-old, who has done so much for grassroots football and walking football over the years, enjoyed a couple of highlights that happen only to a select few.

The former schoolteacher, who worked at Brockworth School for more than 30 years, was the manager of England’s over-60s walking football team, who became the first winners of the FIWFA World Nations Cup.

That was at the end of August and that special moment came just a few months after he was awarded the British Empire Medal.

“It certainly was a year to remember,” Langworthy told The Local Answer with some understatement. “Both were incredible for different reasons. One is a team thing and one is an individual thing. 

“Every manager or player dreams of being the best in the world and to be the first winners of the FIWFA World Nations Cup was an amazing feeling.”

And Langworthy, whose name has been synonymous with Abbeymead Rovers for so long, says it was just as amazing when he was awarded the BEM.

“To be on the King’s first ever birthday list was brilliant,” he said. “To have all the voluntary work that I have done over 50 years recognised and acknowledged blew my mind.

“It’s not why I do it but to be recognised for it is something else.

“Walking football is all voluntary, everything I do with walking football is voluntary.”

Langworthy was presented with his medal at Highnam Court by Edward Gillespie, the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire.

That was obviously a special day and Langworthy said: “There were six of us there, it was a lovely ceremony. In May I’m going to a garden party at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the award, that will be a highlight.”

It will indeed, but while 2023 was clearly a very big year for Langworthy, he’s had other very big years.

“In 2012 by son Ross carried the Olympic Torch,” he said. “It was also the year I received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise and Promotion.”

That award was given for helping young people to deliver skills for life and Langworthy’s lifetime devotion to helping others has certainly rubbed off on his son.

“Ross was nominated to carry the Olympic Torch because of all his voluntary work with the junior teams at Abbeymead Rovers,” said his dad. “He ran the ladies’ team as well.”

Ross, who is now captain of Bishop’s Cleeve, subsequently got his UEFA B coaching licence and he has plenty to look forward to in the coming year as his club look to kick on in Division One South of the Southern League.

His dad, too, has plenty to look forward to in 2024.

“We’re hoping to run a walking football European Championships for men and women,” said Langworthy, who is acting chair of the Walking Football Association.

“I want to continue to grow the game of walking football at all levels.

“So many people who play it have said how much it has helped them and how much it has changed their lives.

“We want to keep changing people’s lives.”