Britain’s oldest footballer, 86, hangs up his boots after 79 years playing the beautiful game

BRITAIN’S oldest footballer is hanging up his boots after 79 years at the age of 86.

Sprightly Dickie Borthwick was still turning out for a Sunday league side until he was sidelined by the pandemic.

The grandad then suffered a back injury which he recovered from, only to develop a chest infection.

He fought off that illness but now believes it would be a step too far to make a full comeback after a two-year break — though he will have a farewell friendly.

Dickie, who plays on the wing or up front, said: “I think it would probably be too much of a struggle to play again, especially in cold weather. It is time to pack it in.

“I’ve had a good run. I’ve still got the urge to get out there and kick the ball around but if you can’t do it, you can’t do it.”

Dickie, who beat prostate cancer nearly ten years ago, reckons he has appeared in more than 1,600 matches and scored around 400 goals.

He last played for local veterans team AFC Wyke Smugglers in December 2019, when he was aged 83.

The retired engineer, who started playing football at age seven while living in Scotland, added: “I wouldn’t do walking football.

"I’m used to playing the whole 90 minutes at full pelt.

"I still want to play the game properly.”

Dickie, of Weymouth, Dorset, who will arrange an over-50s farewell match once the weather gets warmer, puts his longevity down to quitting his 30-a-day smoking habit 40 years ago, drinking tea and eating a bowl of porridge before games.