OLDIES HAVE POSTS TO LEAN ON

Remember Dave Beasant? I do and I saw him at Wembley playing for Wimbledon FC against Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final. He saved a crucial penalty kick and saw his team humiliate Liverpool who were in their pomp at this time, by winning the trophy. Dave is presently attached to Stevenage FC and at the ripe old age of 55, he nearly played on Saturday as a back up keeper to the club. Unfortunately he was not needed, so he missed the opportunity of being crowned the oldest player in the football league.

Former Manchester City goalkeeper John Burridge currently holds the record for being the oldest Premier League player, having appeared aged 43 years, 4 months and 26 days.

If Brad Friedel appears for Tottenham on or after October 15 he will break the record set by Burridge in 1994-5. Friedel has just signed a year along contract at Spurs, taking his role as back up to Hugo Lloris, beyond the age of 44.

The decision to sub the Colombian goalkeeper Faryd  Mondragon with five minutes to go at the end of a 2014 World Cup qualifying group match against Japan was not made for strategic purposes, but simply to allow Faryd to achieve a new World Cup record as the oldest player in the history of the tournament. Mondragon, who turned 43, broke the record previously held by Cameroonian striker Roger Milla, who played a major role for his country in 1994 and even managed to score a goal at 42 years old.

Finally, Mark Schwarzer, at 42 continues to be involved, this time at Chelsea as a back up, offering his vast experience to the Blues' keepers. With 109 international appearances for Australia, he has plenty to offer.

Did you know that the law to prevent the goalkeeper from handling the ball outside the penalty area up to the half way line was not put in place until 1912?