Hang 'em high

[ctlovesred]

So, I did my hammy in a 5-a-side indoor match last night against a bunch of 20-something douches. Still getting goals pretty much every week but it takes me 4 days to recover and I'm only getting slower and fatter (and balder, but that's neither hair nor thair).

Any nearly-40 year olds still playing? When do you hang up the boots for good in favor of shouting at the television? A massive knee injury would do it, I'm certain, but short of that...

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I stopped playing when I was 36 after a badger bit one of my toes off.

 

[leftpeg]

I stopped playing when I was 36 after a badger bit one of my toes off.

Go on...

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

That's what I said to the badger after I bit it's nose off.

 

[ctlovesred]

I stopped playing when I was 36 after a badger bit one of my toes off.

Honey or otherwise?

 

[Hansern]

38 this coming Saturday and still playing. 1 game and 1 training session per week. Takes me a bit longer to recover but I'm in pretty good shape at the moment. Been very serious for the past 12-18 months at the gym and its paying off.
Still fun and will continue to play as long as I can. A serious injury would do it though.

 

[cloggypop]

Are you sure you are not just mentally frail?

 

[ctlovesred]

Are you sure you are not just mentally frail?

Seem familiar?

 

[Got the moves like Carra]

I gave up playing 11 a side earlier this year at 36. Was still playing regularly and in a good standard league but packed it in as I just simply didn't enjoy it anymore and the more I thought about it the more I realised I hadn't really enjoyed it for the previous 12 months and there were better ways for me to be spending my Sunday mornings.

In all honesty I never thought it would get to that stage though. Expected to just keep going at whatever standard I could until everything packed in

 

[leftpeg]

My last game was a couple of years ago...Dads v Coaches. Thanks to a shocking offside decision that went my way I was put clean through on the keeper with at least a 15 yard head start on the last defender. He caught and tackled me before I'd reached the penalty box. Imagine Benteke running through treacle. You could have timed my speed with a sun dial. I knew that was it. Even the wife was pissing herself laughing at me. Embarrassing really.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Imagine Benteke running through treacle.

....or just YouTube 'Benteke'

 

[darkstarexodus]

Didn't play through my twenties but started up 11-a-side a couple years back and still playing. In the best shape of my life now at 32 but it's a shame Ive not been blessed with a load of talent. I'm a watercarrier for the skill players. Grafting as a defensive mid or putting in a shift at either fullback position. Didn't play last season due to commuting weekly 500km each way but hope to find a new team for this summer.

 

[Athens]

I gave up playing whenever I was no longer forced to play in PE.

 

[ctlovesred]

Better to avoid it altogether.

 

[mark1975]

Just turned 40 a few months ago and still playing. Been suffering from sciatica for a few years though and had really bad spell of it in October that I've not fully recovered from. So I took a few months out to try to recover and have started playing again in the last couple of weeks. Still a good passer and worth a few goals, but quick turns etc are more or less impossible these days. I'm not overweight and I'm still quick, not sure how much longer I'll continue though.

 

[James]

Geez. Now I feel like a fucking sook. I'm only 32 and felt like my body was giving in and it was time to move on.
Haven't played 11 a side this season as with a young child and my wife working night shift, it was just too difficult to train and play.
Play futsal every Thursday night though and love it. Starting to get beaten by those quick young kids now and realise I'm turning into those slow old guys who just foul all the time.

 

[Hansern]

My hamstrings are usually fucked for a few days after each game.
Thats the worst with getting older. Every little kick, tackle or bruise take forever to recover from.

 

[LarryHagman]

I ducked out at 13 to concentrate on wanking.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Geez. Now I feel like a fucking sook. I'm only 32 and felt like my body was giving in and it was time to move on.
Haven't played 11 a side this season as with a young child and my wife working night shift, it was just too difficult to train and play.
Play futsal every Thursday night though and love it. Starting to get beaten by those quick young kids now and realise I'm turning into those slow old guys who just foul all the time.

Don't feel too bad - I've been playing in a men's league in a small town in northern Canada. It's not exactly the pinnacle of competition.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Turning 34 this year, still training twice a week and playing 11 aside on the weekend.

In the off season play 5 aside at least once a week.

I'll be long enough retired, I want to keep playing as long as my body lets me.

Have lost a lot pace in the last 18 months though.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I play footy once a week (11 vs 11) and bball once a week ... I'd probably play more if I wasn't married with kids (not as many as Mark though).

I'm not in really good shape any more, but brain works well, still know how to pass and tackle ... Will probably keep on going until the legs say no.

 

[tombrown]

Retired when I was about 12 cos I was shit

 

[Judge Jules]

I played till my late forties (latterly five-a-side only), at which stage I realised I wasn't enjoying it any more, as I still knew what I wanted to do out there and had sufficient skills for it but couldn't get into position to do it nearly quickly enough. As the vicar said to the barmaid.

 

[Athens]

I actually wouldn't mind the odd five-a-side match now and again. The problem is finding nine other blokes who are equally as shit and unfit as myself. Otherwise I wouldn't enjoy it. Especially when people take it too seriously. I can't be fucked with that.

 

[Pesam]

Just turned 40 a few months ago and still playing. Been suffering from sciatica for a few years though and had really bad spell of it in October that I've not fully recovered from. So I took a few months out to try to recover and have started playing again in the last couple of weeks. Still a good passer and worth a few goals, but quick turns etc are more or less impossible these days. I'm not overweight and I'm still quick, not sure how much longer I'll continue though.

Despite my 70-pint a week habit, I trained 5 days a week and was very fit into my 40's. I was playing 11 a-side until I hit 42 but then between my sciatica and a dodgy hip (which led to a hip replacement 2 years ago) I was suddenly no longer the fittest player on the pitch. My passing and reading of the game were still very good but being beaten by players who wouldn't have been on the same pitch as me 10 years earlier was too frustrating. I took up 5 aside and played until I was 48 but at that stage I was picking up too many strains and pulls to justify still playing and the hip was also getting worse.

I never played "old farts" football (over 40's, 50's etc) because I didn't see the point in running past a bunch of fat bastards who were breathless before the game.

I always advise my younger mates to play as long as they can because I miss playing so much.

I had a stint as player/manager towards the end which was very successful but I had to give it up after 2 seasons due to lack of time but at some stage I'd like to try management again.

 

[Spionkop69]

Still play the odd bit of 5 a side with work but the recovery period gets longer especially if I get a knock. Still got the touch if not the pace. 47 this year.

 

[ctlovesred]

Still play the odd bit of 5 a side with work but the recovery period gets longer especially if I get a knock. Still got the touch if not the pace. 47 this year.

47 is close to the top end of SCMers, I think. Well done.

I'll be sending you a certificate with gold stars and 15% off at the local movie theater.

 

[Spionkop69]

47 is close to the top end of SCMers, I think. Well done.

I'll be sending you a certificate with gold stars and 15% off at the local movie theater.

I can still give the 20 something's a run for their money. In five a side, it's all about possession, patience and finishing. It's not basketball where you have to shoot within 30 seconds of getting the ball!

 

[ctlovesred]

I can still give the 20 something's a run for their money. In five a side, it's all about possession, patience and finishing. It's not basketball where you have to shoot within 30 seconds of getting the ball!

And the odd clever foul, of course.

As long as I'm getting a goal or two a game I'm in. The thrill, however pathetic, is still the thrill.

 

[Judge Jules]

47 is close to the top end of SCMers, I think. Well done.

I'll be sending you a certificate with gold stars and 15% off at the local movie theater.

In terms of playing, quite possibly (it happens to be the age when I stopped too BTW). Otherwise, not even close. 😉