Britain’s oldest footballer Dickie Borthwick rolled back the years as he made a ‘fairytale’ goalscoring debut for his new club
Dickie started upfront for Dorset side Portland Town FC's veteran team in a charity match versus a team of talented youngsters.
BRITAIN'S oldest footballer rolled back the years as he made a 'fairytale' goalscoring debut for his new club.
Dickie Borthwick, 81, started upfront for Dorset side Portland Town FC's veteran team in a charity match versus a team of talented youngsters.
The left winger was delighted to back in the thick of things after being plucked from free agency by Portland Town FC chairman, Andy Barber, who heard the grandfather of five was looking for a run out.
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He managed 70 minutes before being taken off - only to return late on and net a late penalty.
Dicke said: "I really enjoyed the game. It was nice to get involved with lads who play football at my level.
"I did all right. Obviously I was a little bit slower than the rest of the lads but give me a few more games and I'll get back up to speed again.
"They marked me pretty heavily. There was three of them marking me at one point!
"I'm delighted I've been able to come down to Portland and mix with a bunch of lads who love football like me. It was very kind of them to invite me.
"Hopefully I'll have another game in a few weeks."
Mr Barber was so impressed with Dickie's performance he has asked him to sign for the club.
He said: "Dickie didn't want to come off the first time but he understood we wanted to give all the lads a run out.
"We brought him back on with five minutes to go, we won a penalty and he put it away. It was a fairytale really."
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Dickie, who beat prostate cancer three years ago, has played parks football every season since 1948 and has played in about 1,600 games, scoring around 400 goals.
He's been sidelined in recent years as he is too old for veterans football, which is often now played by competitive players aged in their late 30s and 40s.
He had been invited to join a walking football team - a new slow-paced version of the game aimed at senior citizens - but rejected the offer as he can still run for 90 minutes.
The retired engineer, began his footballing career at the age of 12 when he played for Invergordon Academy in the Scottish Highlands.