Wales’ footballers over 70 aiming for glory

Some of Wales’ best footballers over the age of 70 are aiming for global glory as the Veterans World Cup comes to Cardiff.

The event, featuring teams from Australia, Norway, Germany, Denmark and the USA, takes place over four days from Tuesday in the Llanrumney area of the city.

Players have said representing Wales is a “fantastic honour”, proving you are never too old to represent your country.

“None of us ever thought we’d represent Wales, and here we are, in our 70s and we’re doing it,” said Wales captain, Mark Entwistle, 75.

There are two separate competitions taking place – an 11-a-side over-70s tournament and a seven-a-side cup for the over-75s on a smaller pitch.

Mr Entwistle said “you don’t get a chance for a breather because the game is going on around you so you’ve got to put the effort in.”

Ryland Wallace, 73, plays in midfield and said this would be his third World Cup of the year after two cricket tournaments.

“I played the over-60s World Cup in India, I’ve just come back from playing over-70s World Cup cricket in England and this is a different game now so we’ll give our best in Cardiff.”

“For me all this is a bonus. At 73 I’m conscious I’m in extra time.

“It’s wonderful really. I just want to stay fit through it. I always say I’m between injuries, so many of us are playing with some sort of injuries.”

Retired vicar Keith Beardmore is in his 80s and said the team had been training hard over the past few weeks.

“When you see that space you’ve got to run for it,” he added.

Ex-Cardiff City and Burnley manager Jimmy Mullen has been putting Wales’ two over-75s teams – Wales and Cymru – through their paces ahead of the tournament, which will involve two matches a day, each about an hour long, under the management of Tim Bowker.

He said the players would be proud to say they have represented their countries.

Keith Hughes, 80, lives in Wrexham and regularly travels to Cardiff to train.

Between world cup training and another tournament in Rhyl, he saw AC/DC in Dublin the weekend before the games kick off.

“I’ve more mileage than Judith Chalmers,” he said, referencing the travel journalist’s adventures while filming shows in the 1970s and ’80s.

The tournament has previously been held in Denmark and Thailand and will travel to Japan next year, where it will include an over-80s category.