In a gym above a Methodist church near Rochdale town centre, Craig Kirby has become an unlikely social media sensation. The 50-year-old amateur midfielder's TikTok and Instagram videos, showcasing his skills on bobbly park pitches, have racked up millions of views and turned him into a symbol of hope for those who believe age should never be a barrier to enjoying the game.
Kirby's most-watched clip, a highlight reel from a match between his team Whitworth Valley and Old Rivingtonians, has been viewed 2.9 million times. Filmed by his wife Lindsay from the touchline, the footage captures Kirby weaving through play on a drizzly Lancashire afternoon, captioned simply: "Well beaten today. Not bad for 50 though."
What began as a way to share matches with a small circle of family and friends has since exploded into a following of roughly 30,000 people on each platform. "I put it on and it went to over one million views," Kirby said. "We were like: 'Wow?!' Lots of things have happened since and it has made me reevaluate. I am probably enjoying football right now more than I did in my late 20s or early 30s."
Kirby's footballing pedigree runs deep. He had trials with Blackburn Rovers as a teenager before choosing to follow his father into the army. Opportunities later arose at Cambridge United and Kettering, but nothing that could sustain his young family at the time. Now working as a personal trainer, Kirby has kept himself in remarkable shape, even incorporating sprint training this season to sharpen his pace.
His online content largely steers clear of the friction sometimes associated with grassroots football, instead spotlighting clever touches, sharp passing and moments of skill. The response has been largely positive, with many comparing his technique to that of Zinedine Zidane. "We're always worried about red flags and being sold this scary world," Kirby said. "But most people are just trying to get on and looking for someone to look up to or to inspire them to do something. I hope I can do that for some people my age who think 'I'm too old'."
His growing profile has opened unexpected doors. Now playing for Vauxhall Motors in the Cheshire Veterans League Premier Division, Kirby will face Wythenshawe, a club stacked with former professionals, including ex-Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse, who has praised Kirby's left foot. Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt has also recently signed with Wythenshawe. Kirby has become a regular at matches organized by other content creators, some drawing hundreds of spectators, and is often approached by young fans asking for his shirt.
Despite his message of longevity in the sport, Kirby is careful to stress that children should not feel pressured to chase professional pathways at the expense of enjoying the game. "Everyone should just be enjoying putting their boots on and if they become a professional, wow, that's amazing," he said. "But I just think there's a lot of pressure from a very young age to get into an academy or some sort of pathway... we have to consider just having fun, which I have done for 40 years."
Among his proudest achievements is a call-up to England's over-50s squad, with hopes of earning an official cap in Thailand later this year. "I do love my country and it's a real privilege to wear the kit," Kirby said.
Behind the viral fame lies profound personal loss. Kirby's son Sebastian died by suicide in December 2023 while serving in the Royal Air Force in Norway, following the death of a close friend months earlier. "He was such a positive kid," Kirby said. "I was going to retire because of it, and I thought I can't quit the game I love on grief... when I go on the pitch, it's about Seb."
Kirby has spoken openly about grief and mental health through his platform, hoping to help others avoid destructive coping mechanisms. "Because I have always had positive outlets for my energy, I think I have leaned on that a bit more and rather than spiralling, I was able to create a direction to go in," he said.
His advice for others considering a return to the game is straightforward: "Things are easy if you just do them. The actual friction and the hard work comes from thinking about doing them." As for how long he'll keep playing, Kirby laughs: "As soon as someone goes past me and they're laughing, I will probably stop then!"
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.