SCORING AT AN OLD AGE.

There is hope yet. Stanley Matthews' record of being the oldest professional footballer to have scored a goal was broken this weekend in Japan. Here is the goal scored by Miura in the Japanese league, at 50 years and 14 days.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/mar/12/kazuyoshi-miura-oldest-professional-scorer-beats-stanley-matthews-record

Prior to this, England's Stanley Matthews at the ripe old age of 50 years 5 days was still playing for Stoke City. Matthews made his name with Blackpool but in 1961 he returned to his home club, Stoke, and played for them for four years. Matthews had led Stoke to promotion from Division Two (old league system!) in 1932-3 and then he inspired them to do the same in 1962-3.

He made his final appearance for the club on February 6th 1965 in a 3-1 win against Fulham.
During his last season with Stoke he played 13 games (9 league 4 cup) and scored one goal at the age of 49 years against Swansea in the 5th Round of the FA Cup. This helped Stoke to draw with Swansea but the Potters lost the replay.

In his career Matthews was not a goalscorer, playing 783 games and hitting the net only 80 times. He was of course a magnificent provider for other goalscorers and perhaps more importantly, he was unselfish.

The oldest goalscorer prior to Matthews was the winger Billy Meredith who in 1924 was playing out his career at Manchester City when he scored at 49 years and 245 days against Newcastle United in the FA Cup semi-final which City lost.
I met Matthews, my schoolboy hero, in Morecambe at a football festival and again in London on a patch of grass outside the House of Lords at a coaching demonstration.

Before that Meredith had been at Manchester United where he became the oldest United player to play for them at 46 years and 281 days and to make it a hat trick he played for Wales at 45 years and 229 days, still the oldest Welsh international.

So well done Miura, the sushi diet is working well.