In praise of - playing on.

Columnist

Monday 26 December 2011

THE STORY of the 72-year-old who still plays footer every week is inspirational.

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by Robert McNeil

Colin Lee, of Northampton, Englandshire, has been chucking himself around like a lunatic — his own words — for 66 years.

You say: "Chucking? Lunatic? Please clarify these controversial remarks." Certainly: Colin is a goalkeeper. Goalies are odd coves, by and large, individualists who shunned the glory of scoring goals for the often thankless task of saving them.

His choice of position is neither here nor, arguably, there. It's the fact that he's still playing that impresses. I gave up five-a-sides at 50 and, four years later, sometimes regret it. It wasn't that I was feeling the pace. Rather, the frequent insights into the ruthless side of human nature killed it for me. If only one could play football without other people.I saw one or two chaps older than me in the dressing rooms. On the pitch, I fancy they often adopted a position at the back, spraying classy passes but never running much. I ran the whole hour. Couldn't help myself.But it's not only in footer that citizens should persevere till it becomes impossible. It's amazing that thick capitalist employers don't hire older persons, whose experience and perspective are more useful than the naivety and alleged energy of younger persons.Science reveals that the brain doesn't settle until the age of 50, before which milestone it tries ceaselessly to wrench free from its moorings and emits frequent whinnying sounds. Settling the brain is indeed very much like breaking in a horse, involving a lot of oats and an eventual realisation that attempts to be free are futile.Meanwhile, if you're in your 60s or 70s, I charge you with this: get oot noo and dae something. Just remember, whether in football or anything else, try to avoid dribbling.

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In praise of - playing on.

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