I'm still on the ball - at 70

But John Payne can outdo them all, still playing the beautiful game at 70.

The former financial advisor was on the books at Aston Villa when he was 19, and is still showcasing his skills every Thursday night at Redhill School in Stourbridge.

He enjoyed a long career in amateur football, eventually retiring from the game aged 38.

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But following an early retirement from his job at The Prudential aged 55, he dusted off his boots and started playing five-a-side football again with friends in Stourbridge.

The Thursday night fixture has been a staple in his calendar ever since, even if he has outgrown his friends.

Mr Payne said: "They've all got injuries or got too old for it, but I've just kept on going.

"There's a new group of people who play now that we have picked up along the way, and it still gets quite competitive.

"Most of them are in their 30s, there might be one or two in their 40s, but I'm the oldest by a long way.

"I should think I'm probably the oldest footballer in the area. I haven't seen anyone near my age having a game around here.

Mr Payne, of Lawnswood Avenue, Wordsley, and his group of friends have three five-a-side teams for the games.

He said: "We have 15-or-so of us so we have three teams and we play a winner stays on, so you get a rest most of the time."

The Birmingham City fan started off playing at school when he was 10 and played for a number of clubs during his career, including Redditch, Banbury and Bromsgrove.

He also represented Birmingham for the Federation of Boys' Clubs, and even played against Ajax for them while on a tour to Holland.

He eventually finished his career playing for The Waterloo pub in Wollaston.

"I started up my own team in about 1963, called Northfield Dynamo, and we played for a few years but after a while we started getting hammered every week so we folded.

"I started off as an inside right forward, but eventually got moved back into midfield."

Mr Payne, who is known as Bluenose by his friends and family, added: "I just love playing. I stopped playing properly when I was about 38, but after retiring I had a bit more time on my hands so started up again.

"I was a financial advisor and worked all hours and a lot of evenings so didn't have time to play then.

"I always keep myself fit and go down to the gym twice a week. I played cricket as well, and played for Oldswinford until I was 62.

"In my last innings I got run out for 49."