A Highland five-a-side football team – who claim to be the oldest in the world with a combined age of 330 – is urging “youngsters” to sign up for a charity tournament.
The golden oldies continue to defy their ages and are aiming to win the event in aid of CHAS, the Children’s Hospices Across Scotland charity.
The oldest member of the team is Frank Gaskell, the former head of international affairs at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, who was born in 1946, the year when league football started again after WW11.
Mr Gaskell, 71, said the five friends have been playing together since the 1980s, along with a few other people over 60.
They have entered a team for the ‘High Fives for All Indoor Football Festival’, organised by Inverness Leisure this coming weekend.
He said: “It’s great exercise and we’re all still very competitive. We aim to continue playing as long as we can.
“Last year was a bit of a landmark as we were joined by a 63-year-old player who found walking football too slow.
“We appreciate that we can still play and wanted to give something back to young people who may never have had the chance to kick a football.
“The obvious way to do this was to raise funds for CHAS to support these young folks and their families.”
He added: “If we can play, so can you, so please sign up and help. There is still time to enter.”
Stephen Hart, CHAS’s community fundraising manager for the north of Scotland, said: “It is a brilliant idea to raise money which will benefit children across the Highlands and Islands and raise awareness of the work of the charity.”
The tournament will be held over January 13 and 14 at the Bught Park Leisure Centre in Inverness.
The event has been organised by the Inverness Businesses Fives group which plays five-a-side football every Thursday evening at Millburn Academy.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the group’s first match.
CHAS offers palliative care, family respite and support through its hospices, homecare services and hospital presence.
This event is intended to raise funds specifically to reinforce vital support for affected families in the charity’s Northern Region, embracing the Highlands and Islands.
To register a team, or find out more about the event, contact Ron Cruickshank via email at ron@alaf.biz or on 01463 711993
