How old were you when you packed in playing football?


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30 for eleven a side.
Play occasionally in 5/7 a side non competitive games since. Played one competitive game last year and felt like someone had set fire to my lungs after about five minutes. The bastards left me on for the duration anarl, never again.
 
Looks like there are loads of oldies out there who still fancy a game.
If any of you want to make a comeback get in touch as I run an over 40's team in the Washington area.
We have had a few of lads retire at the end of last season one was 63 the other 61 and another couple with injury.
I am looking for a few new faces so if you fancy it send me a pm. We have a few pre season games arraigned so you have nothing to loose.
 
Competitive - 33. Still play over 35s and have kickabout couple of times a week. Had ankle ligament problems and broken arm but can't give it up. Jogging is boring. Would much rather chase a ball round like a big bairn.
 
58 and still playing over 35 over 45 at eleven-a-side and over 55 at 7-a-side across the pitch. Its a lot warmer here so much easier but starting to take a toll on my body.

Tow broken arms and broken foot in the last five years takes the shine of it and now my knees are giving me problems as well.

Playing through the pain with Heel Spur and Patella Tendonitis as dont like to miss a game but I think my body is telling me to give it away.
 
Played at a decent level of 11 a side until 39. I'm 43 now, have thought about getting back in to playing over 40's but never got round to it, it's hard to make the time every week what with work and family.
 
Good lad - gives me more hope. From your perspective, what do you think when people pack in in their 20s? (Assuming not injury forced). I really can't understand it

Apart from the obvious, no better pleasure in a mans life than lashing a goal in

Goal scoring was never my forte, however a nice cruching tackle. Happy days.
Played 11 a side till I hit 50, last few years were a struggle but I had promised myself at 30 I would play till 50. Never had much pace so had none to lose. Stopped at 50 knees and back nowt ower. Put 3 stone on in 3 years after stopping all exercise and training. I knew my weight was ballooning upwards but thought without training I could do nowt about it. Started doing a bit 2 and a half year ago after shocking myself on the scales at 16st 8 lbs. Fighting weight early twenties was 12st 4lbs. Started slowly and lost all that weight in 18 months. Train several times per week now, knees and back o.k. touch wood. In my more delerious moments I feel I could get my boots out again but
A. I would probably be slow, crap and show myself up and
B. Just like if we bought Demba Ba my knee, back, or whatever would just go ping.
Training has now taken over to replace the buzz I got out of football, 56 year old now its not as good as playing but you cannot carry on forever.
My advise for what its worth I was stupid to carry on as long as I did just through being a stubborn tw@t and playing with ridiculous injuries just to say I played till I was 50 I did my body no favours.
I am however quite proud of the fact that I did.
Some of my ex team mates who I still see packed in in their twenties with nowt the matter with them. Basically I despise them for that, they could have lent me their knees so I could have carried on.
I dont know how old you are mate but play on as long as you enjoy it, your body holds up and you still contribute to the team.
 
Packed in 11 a side at 17 when our team folded, still play 5-a-side most weeks.
 
My knees and ankles ache like a fucker after I've played, I'm only 28!
Dread to think what they'll be like when I'm in my mid 30s
 
About 21 when I gave up 11-a-side. Team folded, I moved away, couldn't be arsed to join another team.

Couple of years later I was in a car accident and had to have half my pelvis replaced, broke my arm and dislocated my hip. Didn't play for a number of years after that but recently (at 30) started playing 9-a-side with some of the lads from Manchester Branch and that hour a week is enough of a killer.

Tried an 11-a-side game for a local pub team and quickly realised that Sunday League round here is a young man's game so haven't bothered with that.
 
35 for 11-a-side when I smashed my jaw in 2 places playing - always said I'd wrap in when I missed work through playing so I've done alright

36 for 5/6-a-side - just can't be arsed with it as you get the young lads who think they are messi or ronaldo and haven't a clue how to play the game so I started hoofing them - again, time to wrap in
 
Goal scoring was never my forte, however a nice cruching tackle. Happy days.
Played 11 a side till I hit 50, last few years were a struggle but I had promised myself at 30 I would play till 50. Never had much pace so had none to lose. Stopped at 50 knees and back nowt ower. Put 3 stone on in 3 years after stopping all exercise and training. I knew my weight was ballooning upwards but thought without training I could do nowt about it. Started doing a bit 2 and a half year ago after shocking myself on the scales at 16st 8 lbs. Fighting weight early twenties was 12st 4lbs. Started slowly and lost all that weight in 18 months. Train several times per week now, knees and back o.k. touch wood. In my more delerious moments I feel I could get my boots out again but
A. I would probably be slow, crap and show myself up and
B. Just like if we bought Demba Ba my knee, back, or whatever would just go ping.
Training has now taken over to replace the buzz I got out of football, 56 year old now its not as good as playing but you cannot carry on forever.
My advise for what its worth I was stupid to carry on as long as I did just through being a stubborn tw@t and playing with ridiculous injuries just to say I played till I was 50 I did my body no favours.
I am however quite proud of the fact that I did.
Some of my ex team mates who I still see packed in in their twenties with nowt the matter with them. Basically I despise them for that, they could have lent me their knees so I could have carried on.
I dont know how old you are mate but play on as long as you enjoy it, your body holds up and you still contribute to the team.

Don't understand how people can give up playing at such a young age unless its for injuries or work, these are the same people I have no time for when they shout their daft opinions at the match, they give up football at a young age or have never played it at any decent level yet think they know everything about the game and more often than not are wrong, not always but mostly. Hopefully I last as long as you have although at 24 I've had my fair share of serious injuries, broken jaws and snapped ligaments among them. I'm currently playing at a good level and will look to drop down the leagues and carry on for as long as possible before moving onto over 35's or 40's. Fair play to you, nothing beats the feeling of winning a competitive game of football but good luck with your training
 
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