Page 166 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Veteran’s

Football

By Major Damion Greetham

Age is no boundary. Many up for the comradery you have with as a
years ago, when signing on team, the banter, the success, the failures
and the friends you make.
the dotted line at the Army The AGC Veteran’s materialised out of a
Careers Office, I remember group of players who played the majority
the recruiter saying you of their football in the late 1990’s early
2000’s, who still had a burning passion
could play all the football to play. It started off as a bi-annual get
you wanted. As a reasonable together against the Royal Army Physical
Training Corps, which was seen as a bit of
footballer in my day, I fun and got people reminiscing about the Ritchie Wilson, ex Corps Captain, presents Tony Day his AGC
Cap in recognition of his playing and managing career for the
thought ‘Great’, and from the good old days. AGC
age of 21 through to about 33
years old, the recruiter wasn’t The Future 3 September 2016, saw us win for a second
wrong. This has morphed considerably over the year in a row against the Army Crusaders
and Royal Air Force Icarus. Judging by the
last few years, with the AGC Veterans team photo, you would have thought that
Things Change hosting a Tri-Tournament in September we would be more of a ‘Tug of War’ team,
every year at the Aldershot Military but that’s the beauty of Veteran’s Football.
Stadium in memory of one of the AGC No matter what your physical fitness,
However, age does catch up with you Football Corp’s characters, Jack O’Regan your ability to play 5 or 90 minutes, it’s
eventually, injuries occur and we don’t who passed away sadly a few years ago. the beauty of playing with like-minded
recover as quick as we use to. There are We have also been very fortunate to individuals over the age of 35. Mark
always younger and fitter players coming participate in games at St George’s Park, Welch rolled back the years scoring five
through and eventually we hang our boots where the England team train and other goals in the tournament. Tony Day, ex
up. The problem is, in our minds and friendlies across the board against Royal Corps manager and player still cameo’s
hearts the passion to play is still there and Air Force, Army and civilian teams. and adds class to the pitch, every time he
unfortunately, other sports do not make The most recent tournament on Saturday graces the field and there are many others
who for a few times a year, get to relive
their youth.

The Vets Need You

There are plenty of people within the
Corps, still serving and who have left, over
the age of 35 who like playing football, but
don’t want to play competitively due to
injury or can’t commit to playing regularly.
Age is no boundary, football is not just for
the young and in another 15 years I’ll be
advertising for players to play ‘Walking’
football.

AGC Veterans Team 2016. Back row left to right: Darren Butlin,
Vince Kincaid, Owain Meale, Jason Moore, Mick Sellers, Richard
Wilson, Derek Bostock and Mark Welch. Middle row: Ben Powers.
Front row: Damion Greetham, Tony Day, Romeo Slater, Andy
Biggin, Stevie Sharratt and Cary Grant

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