The Oldies Thread



chrismpw said:
That day has come. Arthritis knocked my playing days on the head 5 years ago, when my knee couldn't even cope with walking football anymore. But today, these old stalwarts go to the bin.

Thanks boys, it's been a blast. No titles, no FA or world cups, like most of us, but a huge amount of fun.

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My boots are still in the shed, but I am only 70 next month so there is still time to make the big break. Something that annoys me slightly is when I meet with people I played with or against the conversation always goes to “who was good”, we never talk about how much enjoyment we got from playing. I don’t know if this has happened to anyone else but since I stopped playing, indeed the longer it has been since I played I have got much better and much harder. When I played I was bang average and while I may have put in a few tough tackles I was never one for intimidating or fighting. Now when I meet players from my past I have become one of the best players in the teams I played for and a tough opponent to play against. I don’t know how that happened, it may be just politeness or whatever, however I don’t mind as I tend only to think of the tremendous pleasure being a footballer was. I don’t especially recall cup finals or league wins but more the overall fun. Has anyone else experienced this.
 
Caolam said:
My boots are still in the shed, but I am only 70 next month so there is still time to make the big break. Something that annoys me slightly is when I meet with people I played with or against the conversation always goes to “who was good”, we never talk about how much enjoyment we got from playing. I don’t know if this has happened to anyone else but since I stopped playing, indeed the longer it has been since I played I have got much better and much harder. When I played I was bang average and while I may have put in a few tough tackles I was never one for intimidating or fighting. Now when I meet players from my past I have become one of the best players in the teams I played for and a tough opponent to play against. I don’t know how that happened, it may be just politeness or whatever, however I don’t mind as I tend only to think of the tremendous pleasure being a footballer was. I don’t especially recall cup finals or league wins but more the overall fun. Has anyone else experienced this.
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Most of the games I played in were versus other school staff sides, but very regularly. There was one school renowned for being cheats. Lovely people off the pitch, but absolute cheats on it. Once we agreed to play 30 minutes a side (foul winter weather on a Friday after work). We were 1 up and their ref played at least 50 minutes in the 2nd half. The minute they equalised, he blew full time. I think we let them equalise in the end, just to end the game. Anyway - they had 1 really good player, with all the athleticism, pace and skills that made him head and shoulders above our general level. As a defender my strengths were reading the game, position and pace ... that was all really. (As a player ibalways played fair and never deliberately fouled anyone - didnt ever need to really.) Other teams were terrified of him. I always had him in my back pocket though. Why? Psychology.
Before I met him on a pitch in an actual game, I had worked with him in my first year of teaching in a different school. On an outward bound course with kids, we'd fill the summer evenings playing football with the kids. Jumpers for goalposts kind of thing. In these games I obviously left a mark with some "firm" challenges, which meant he never liked coming near me. I liked that and always made a point of picking him up early in matches and share a knowing look! 😅
 

Caolam said:
My boots are still in the shed, but I am only 70 next month so there is still time to make the big break. Something that annoys me slightly is when I meet with people I played with or against the conversation always goes to “who was good”, we never talk about how much enjoyment we got from playing. I don’t know if this has happened to anyone else but since I stopped playing, indeed the longer it has been since I played I have got much better and much harder. When I played I was bang average and while I may have put in a few tough tackles I was never one for intimidating or fighting. Now when I meet players from my past I have become one of the best players in the teams I played for and a tough opponent to play against. I don’t know how that happened, it may be just politeness or whatever, however I don’t mind as I tend only to think of the tremendous pleasure being a footballer was. I don’t especially recall cup finals or league wins but more the overall fun. Has anyone else experienced this.
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Spot on.
Happened to me...had me nearly believing it myself.

Edit; I just played a suitabley modest straight bat and poo-pooed it.
 

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