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I played my first game of 11 a side after many years last night; our youngest's primary school dad's team which has just been set up. I was playing at centre back but even so it gave me a new found appreciation that the game is not as easy as you think. Offsides (or not) were an absolute nightmare - we had a ref but he was calling those himself which maybe didn't help.
And in true QPR stylee, heading towards a respectable 1-1 at half time I coughed up possession and the oppo made it 2-1 with the last kick of the half.
I played a works 11 match 2 years ago, after about a 25 year hiatus, i was never the most mobile and felt fine during the game BUT the following morning i was as flexible as an ironing board.
Playing 11 a side football on 10:50 - Jan 15 by PlanetHonneywood
Sounds like piss poor fitness levels as well.
Tell us chef, what are your teammates' cycling abilities like?
[Post edited 15 Jan 10:58]
I generally played in 5 a side teams when I was younger, fitter, slimmer, etc...
But recently took part in a charity 11 a side match, and found the constant switching of direction was an absolute killer on my knees and hamstrings etc. Can see why players could pick up so many injuries.Even at very local level, you still get a few flash Harry's doing multiple step overs in an attempt to get wallies like me, to look like a prize plum !!!
Have been considering over 50s football locally, went along to watch and there were some decent players there.
But yes - agree, easy to criticise, with pukka pie in hand, whilst consuming multiple pints of extra strong lager !!!
I started playing 11-aside again about 4 years ago aged 30, after only playing 5s or 7s since being at school. Absolutely worlds apart. I'm 6'4 and naturally more defensive (read not very good but get stuck in) so went in at CB and christ alive, really struggled with reading balls over the top. Found myself either getting caught underneath them or having them bounce over my head - really take it for granted how accomplished these lot are at what we consider the real basics of the game.
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Playing 11 a side football on 11:22 - Jan 15 with 2484 views
Playing 11 a side football on 11:00 - Jan 15 by numptydumpty
I generally played in 5 a side teams when I was younger, fitter, slimmer, etc...
But recently took part in a charity 11 a side match, and found the constant switching of direction was an absolute killer on my knees and hamstrings etc. Can see why players could pick up so many injuries.Even at very local level, you still get a few flash Harry's doing multiple step overs in an attempt to get wallies like me, to look like a prize plum !!!
Have been considering over 50s football locally, went along to watch and there were some decent players there.
But yes - agree, easy to criticise, with pukka pie in hand, whilst consuming multiple pints of extra strong lager !!!
Played my last "proper" game at 47 against a few twenty somethings. Boots well and truly hung up! I was never good enough to be that Jan Molby character strolling around knowing where to stand etc, i was just a good runner.
In limbo though, as I feel I'm not ready for walking football yet...
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Playing 11 a side football on 12:19 - Jan 15 with 2278 views
Playing 11 a side football on 11:54 - Jan 15 by nick_hammersmith
Played my last "proper" game at 47 against a few twenty somethings. Boots well and truly hung up! I was never good enough to be that Jan Molby character strolling around knowing where to stand etc, i was just a good runner.
In limbo though, as I feel I'm not ready for walking football yet...
My last proper 11s was in 1991, as per the surgeon's advice. Ignored it a bit and started playing kick-about stuff until mid-90s, then stupidly, 5s until final game in 1999. The twisting and turning was effing up my knees. Last time I kicked a ball in anger: 2002 played rush goalie while in the Galapagos.
Then in an even bigger display of stupidty, started running marathons in 2005 (no twisting or clattering centre halves). Final run in 2019, a 5km. Totally mullered for six weeks!
None of the above remotely sensible for an amputee since the age of two! Currently, I've been a gym monster rebuilding leg muscles as I get back to hiking and attempting Hadrian's Wall later in the year.
Wouldn't change a bloody thing; they really were the best of days, and I miss them immeasurably!
Keep going if you can chaps!
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
I've run a Sunday morning team for 26 years, playing for about the first 10 or 12 but only managing since about 2012 as I found it difficult to come to terms with the fact that my legs had gone (speed-wise, not in terms of stamina). If I have to come on at all these days (due to no shows, injuries etc.) I get incredibly frustrated that I can't keep up but having run the club for 26 years I'm pretty good at denying any responsibility if I am at fault for any goals being conceded. I've also learned that you want players who are going to stick with you 100% through thick and thin. Probably works like that at professional level too.
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Playing 11 a side football on 17:51 - Jan 15 with 1898 views
Definitely the twisting and turning and landing - not exactly a blast for the knees - totally get that PH.
I did often play walking football at the end of circuit training few years ago. Its very difficult to not break into a jog when you miscontrol the ball !!!
My best friend lost his granddaughter and him and his son in law went to a wonderful organisation for support. Mothers get alot of support when losing a child, and rightly so, but fathers and grandfather's not so much.
So one night 4 years ago I went to a charity game, and Sands Thanet were 2 guys short... so I was asked if I could do a 20 minute stint.
Bear in mind I was 67 then, and not played football for over 20 years, but i run everyday so said yes, after all it was basically a kick about
I played a decent standard in my days both Whitstable and Ramsgate, but I was absolutely shot after 10 mins.. in fact I went to head a ball... it hit me and I fell flat on my @rse to much amusement.... never again
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Playing 11 a side football on 20:55 - Jan 15 with 1699 views
Played a charity match 15 odd years ago when I was in my mid-forties. Our coach happened to be the same guy who had coached me at under age, 30 years previous. He watched me ‘run’ down the wing and shouted after me “well at least you haven’t lost any pace - you were slow thirty years ago and you’re still slow.”
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Playing 11 a side football on 22:38 - Jan 15 with 1546 views
Been playing walking football since my mid 50s, now 62 and love it. Play in the Northamptonshire Over 60s league for Moulton Masters. Our club has around 150 players aged from over 50 to players in their 70s, getting on for one of the biggest clubs in the country. Great banter and play on fantastic 3g pitch twice a week. Keeps you fit. Had the great pleasure of playing against Chelsea last season in quarter finals of a tournament at Northampton Town FC and beating them 1-0. One of our players a QPR lad even published a book about our walking football exploits available on Amazon, called Walking Back to Happiness. Few QPR boys based in Northants play at our club.
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Playing 11 a side football on 22:55 - Jan 15 with 1501 views
Playing 11 a side football on 22:38 - Jan 15 by NorthantsHoop
Been playing walking football since my mid 50s, now 62 and love it. Play in the Northamptonshire Over 60s league for Moulton Masters. Our club has around 150 players aged from over 50 to players in their 70s, getting on for one of the biggest clubs in the country. Great banter and play on fantastic 3g pitch twice a week. Keeps you fit. Had the great pleasure of playing against Chelsea last season in quarter finals of a tournament at Northampton Town FC and beating them 1-0. One of our players a QPR lad even published a book about our walking football exploits available on Amazon, called Walking Back to Happiness. Few QPR boys based in Northants play at our club.
I’ve played Vets (over 35’s) football for past 7 years and loved it. Still competitive and decent standard, moved up north after playing Saturdays in London and it’s been brilliant - funnily enough play in the same league as the wythenshawe ex pros - think they’ve just signed Valencia?!
Anyone who’s coming to end of open age can’t recommend vets enough. Played 5aside for years, nothing beats 11aside IMO so if you’ve got an appetite do what I did and google a local team and get involved. Availability is an issue for 90% of teams out there so you’re likely to get a warm welcome👍
If not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled. PG Wodehouse
Playing 11 a side football on 22:55 - Jan 15 by ingeminate
I’ve played Vets (over 35’s) football for past 7 years and loved it. Still competitive and decent standard, moved up north after playing Saturdays in London and it’s been brilliant - funnily enough play in the same league as the wythenshawe ex pros - think they’ve just signed Valencia?!
Anyone who’s coming to end of open age can’t recommend vets enough. Played 5aside for years, nothing beats 11aside IMO so if you’ve got an appetite do what I did and google a local team and get involved. Availability is an issue for 90% of teams out there so you’re likely to get a warm welcome👍
Miss playing 11 a side footie. Played for QPR Supporters Club for one year at 17/18 under Mick and Keith but was involved in an industrial accident at work and lost most of the sight in my right eye. Tried to go back but was getting dizzy so packed it in at 18. Then got roped into pub football through work at 24. Even the sh1te pub football I ended up playing I miss. Packed it in after a ACL tear at 34. Played Goals for a few years up until 42. 57 now.
Play for as long as you can as you will miss it.
Smells like a trout farm in here
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Playing 11 a side football on 09:55 - Jan 16 with 1150 views
This thread has made me nostalgic for the amateur football I played in the late 70’s/early 80’s for an Old Boys side in the Southern Amateur League. The SAL was (still is, as far as I know following a merger with the Amateur Football Combination) all about hospitality and socialising with the opposition after the match. A back injury ended my career (just as I was about to break into the 5th XI, damnit!) but I found a role as Hon Secretary/1st XI match ‘reporter’ for the local paper which, while not entirely compensating for running around like a headless chicken every Saturday afternoon, did keep me involved with the club. Some ex-players go on to become referees of course (quite a laugh at the level I was playing at). I remember one old fella called Ernie Parsons, who must’ve been in his late 70’s even back then, who turned out every week. He looked a bit like Jackie Wright, Benny Hill’s bald-headed sidekick, a lovely fella who was always welcomed in the bar afterwards. Presumably long gone now. That’s another route to staying involved I guess. Anyone considered refereeing I wonder?
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Playing 11 a side football on 10:29 - Jan 16 with 1089 views
I'm another one who played his last game when in the mid 40's & still think I retired too young!
I stopped playing in 1986 aged 34 due to a cartilaage problem, but after a year with no pain I agreed to play if we wre short of numbers. Come 1997, after playing well over 50 matches, I came to the end of my career.
Heathfield were the most successful Sunday side Suffolk has seen, but away to ST Josephs (Luton) in the FA Sunday Cup we travelled to Hitchin with many missing. To cut the story short, I had to play 90 minutes at left back, a goalkeeper playing at centre forward (it sometimes does pay to have an extra 'keeper in the squad) & a 55 year ols named as sub.
We lost 2-0 with both goals scored by Kerry Dixon, but our performance that day was the proudest I've been about any football team! I did get slightly drunk in the bar after the game (St Josephs officials insisting that they paid for all my drinks & refusing to let me pay for any).
I took the next day off work & went Christmas shopping with my wife & collapsed to the floor half way through! That really was the end of my playing days.
My knees, back & groins have never fully recovered, but give me my life again & if anything was to change, it would be that I played more!
To any of you thinking about playing, do so. Nothing outside of family comes close to the joy of playing football.
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Playing 11 a side football on 11:48 - Jan 16 with 1002 views
I'm the same age as Ben Hamer so I'm up for a go in goal if we are short. I can't run, my knees won't allow that anymore, so I can happily fulfill the JCS role in the squad too.
In reality, five a side is my limit these days or a kick about on the beach. I was never much good at the big games anyway.
Playing 11 a side football on 10:29 - Jan 16 by terryb
I'm another one who played his last game when in the mid 40's & still think I retired too young!
I stopped playing in 1986 aged 34 due to a cartilaage problem, but after a year with no pain I agreed to play if we wre short of numbers. Come 1997, after playing well over 50 matches, I came to the end of my career.
Heathfield were the most successful Sunday side Suffolk has seen, but away to ST Josephs (Luton) in the FA Sunday Cup we travelled to Hitchin with many missing. To cut the story short, I had to play 90 minutes at left back, a goalkeeper playing at centre forward (it sometimes does pay to have an extra 'keeper in the squad) & a 55 year ols named as sub.
We lost 2-0 with both goals scored by Kerry Dixon, but our performance that day was the proudest I've been about any football team! I did get slightly drunk in the bar after the game (St Josephs officials insisting that they paid for all my drinks & refusing to let me pay for any).
I took the next day off work & went Christmas shopping with my wife & collapsed to the floor half way through! That really was the end of my playing days.
My knees, back & groins have never fully recovered, but give me my life again & if anything was to change, it would be that I played more!
To any of you thinking about playing, do so. Nothing outside of family comes close to the joy of playing football.
Well indeed - I'm 49 but intend to keep playing for as long as my knees/body will allow!
Playing 11 a side football on 17:50 - Jan 15 by Logman
I've run a Sunday morning team for 26 years, playing for about the first 10 or 12 but only managing since about 2012 as I found it difficult to come to terms with the fact that my legs had gone (speed-wise, not in terms of stamina). If I have to come on at all these days (due to no shows, injuries etc.) I get incredibly frustrated that I can't keep up but having run the club for 26 years I'm pretty good at denying any responsibility if I am at fault for any goals being conceded. I've also learned that you want players who are going to stick with you 100% through thick and thin. Probably works like that at professional level too.
Recently I did something on the farce that's the UK honours system. As anyone who's ever run a side knows, it's a thankless job made doubly difficult by no-shows, moaners, and blokes who literally need the arses wiped.
So to run a side for 26 years is more than managing, it's about putting something back. Plenty of lads have enjoyed it I'm sure, and so, well done you and people like you for being the army of coal shovelers keeping the engine running.
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
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