79-year-old is world’s oldest football player
An Australian man has proven that age should never be a barrier to achieving one’s goals in life. At the age of 79, David Mudge, a soccer player for his neighbourhood team, set a world record for being the oldest active participant in a football match.
According to Guinness World Records, Mudge, who turned 80 on January 25, was 79 years and 89 days old when he participated in a Northern Suburbs Football Association match for the Kissing Point Football Club against North Turramurra.
After learning that the previous record-holder for the oldest competitive football (soccer) player (male) was only 73 years old, Mudge-a resident of Turramurra, New South Wales-applied for the Guinness World Record. David plays for the over-45 team every week of the season.
According to the GWR, “super fit” Mudge easily met the guidelines for the record by staying on the pitch for the full 90-minute game, which applicants must have done in the last year. After the game ended, players from both sides lined up to give him a cheer and shake his hand.”
He said: “I want to thank my teammates for putting up with me.” According to the record book, Mudge’s involvement with the Northern Suburbs Football Association began in 1958, when he began playing for the Beecroft club in the under 14 and a half age group.
