101-year-old John Shannon so proud to watch his soccer-mad son John Junior, 75, everywhere he plays
FA honour grassroots 'hero' dad who reveals proudest moment was watching his son make his England debut.. aged 72
JOHN SHANNON is like thousands of dads up and down the country glowing with pride watching his lad play football.
However, unlike anyone else in this country, John is 101 years old and his soccer-mad boy, John ‘Junior’, is 75.
Our national sport is peppered with the names of famous father and son double acts: Clough, Lampard, Bruce, Redknapp, Schmeichel and Ince to name just a few.
But none have lasted anywhere near as long as this unsung dynasty that epitomises the passion for football at the very bottom which can match anything at the top.
It is why the FA chose this year to honour John Sr as one of their ‘heroes’ at grass-roots level.
It brings to light the enduring commitment of both men and the heartwarming boyish enjoyment in ‘young’ John’s face when he takes to the pitch for his country.
It is a cold, blustery day at St George’s Park.
We are in the modern base camp for England’s first-team superstars to see the veterans take on Wales in the ‘Dermot Gallagher’ Trophy.
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John Shannon Sr takes his place on a plastic seat, opens up a pre-packed sandwich and settles down.
He is a colourful chap; born in Barking in 1916, the year of the Battle of the Somme in World War I.
He spent three years behind enemy lines for British Intelligence in Belgium in WW2, helped found the tiny country’s navy and worked as a headteacher.
At one point he decided that a young, hopeful sportsman called Bobby Moore would not be the right fit for his school and so declined his application.
His son is one of two players wearing No 3 for England inside the vast hall this afternoon. The game has moved indoors to protect old bones from the wintry weather.
‘Junior’ is one of the senior members in a squad with an average age of 67.
When asked about his proudest moment watching his boy play over the years, John Sr replied: “Seeing him make his England debut, of course.
“Watching him pull that white shirt on for the very first time.” And how old was his son at that point? “72.”
John Sr (below) continued: “I packed up playing football fairly young but he carried on. I never imagined seeing him play for the veteran side, of course.
“In his early days it was always cross-country running.
“My wife and I spent many hours in the freezing cold waiting for him to appear and then just run by.
“Sooner or later he’ll hurt himself and pack up. I don’t want him to pack up — it would be very sensible if he did, of course, and maybe take up refereeing.
“But for his age he is quite exceptional. I sometimes look at him and think he must be a bit stupid at 75, rushing after a ball. Perhaps I haven’t done too well as a father because I haven’t been able to stop him.
“Then I think to myself that I was playing tennis very hard at 75.
“I’d still be playing now if some idiot hadn’t given me the wrong medicine. I guess we have good genes.
“My father was very active — he could bend down and touch his toes at 92 and still run. He had a cold bath every day at 92 and Indian club exercises every day.”
The two squads line up like it is a World Cup final; the appetite to play the equal of those English and Welshmen who faced off at Euro 2016.
This could politely be referred to as the ‘Old Firm’ derby.
From a 12-inch square speaker both anthems echo around the arena, men stand to attention and sing along.
Former Premier League ref Dermot Gallagher is the man in the middle of this fascinating spectacle played on the same ultra-modern surface used by the England first team preparing for major tournaments.
The FA wanted to salute the Shannons for the way both defy age and distance to embrace soccer.
Dad lives in Harrogate while son John is in Cambridge, a retired design engineer still playing three or four times a week whether five, six or 11- a-side for his team, Ridgeons.
John Sr said: “I don’t really know why I got this award. You tend to get things just for being 101. When you get very old people give you things for doing very little.
“I don’t stand on the touchline any more. We take a fold-up seat with a fleece, a blanket and my coat.
“I can’t stand for too long. But I’m quite happy. Imagine any father in this position in 50 years’ time?”
The pace of these men has clearly slowed with age but there is a youthful industrial vocabulary to prove the minds are still fully engaged.
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The result is a 1-1 draw after Wales took the lead.
Anybody with a genuine feel for football could not watch these old warriors give their all and not be touched.
But is it hard for John Jr — five years off 80 — having dad still on the touchline watching? Does he ever shout during games?
“I couldn’t hear it anyway,” Jr admitted.
