Danny Murphy was one of the participants in the Extra Time project
Fulham captain Danny Murphy was among the participants involved as the club's innovative Extra Time health programme was re-launched.
Murphy joined locals from the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham as they were put through their paces with chair aerobics and yoga as well as bringing things bang up to date with Wii Sports - with the captain showing his skills at Wii Bowling.
The Extra Time project uses the 'power of football' to engage with adults and provide regular sport and leisure activities at 30 professional football clubs.
"It's great to get older people involved in exercise and socialising together"
- Danny Murphy
It is jointly funded by the Football Foundation and Comic Relief, who developed it in partnership with the Premier League and Age UK.
It focuses on boosting health and emotional wellbeing by tackling serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, falls prevention, obesity, and depression.
The project also focuses on lifestyle changes that promote wellbeing, helping older people to stay healthy and empowering them to live independent lives.
Speaking at the event, Murphy said: "It's a great set-up and it's great to get older people involved in exercise and socialising together.
"This programme is achieving tremendous results in support of older people in the community"
- Football Foundation Chief Executive Paul Thorogood
"To offer this in a nice environment, which is what we have got here at the Cottage, and get the local community involved is beneficial to everybody."
Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: "Extra Time projects like this one delivered by Fulham have been tremendously successful in improving the health and quality of life for older people across the country.
He added: "The smile on the faces of the participants is perhaps the most satisfying result of all – and the true evidence that this programme is achieving tremendous results in support of older people in the community."
You can find out more about the Fulham Foundation's Extra-Time project by watching Match of the Day on Sunday 5th February, BBC One at 0735 GMT.
