Former Lisburn Distillery and Glenavon goalkeeper Philip Matthews is donning the gloves again - at the grand ‘old’ age of 48.
Matthews has been signed up by Civil Service as emergency cover and could make his debut for the Amateur League club’s second team next weekend.
It is now more than a decade since Philip last played a competitive game of football, but the ex-Irish League star is relishing his unlikely return to action with the Belfast club.
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“I still feel good and I’m actually looking forward to it,” said Matthews, who retired in 2011 after making almost 400 appearances for Distillery.
“I mightn’t be as quick or sharp as I once was, but hopefully I can help out in terms of organising, communicating and dictating things from the back.”
Matthews was enlisted by Civil Service after a chance conversation in the club’s social club after watching wife Leah and daughters Lucy and Rachel play hockey.
“The Civil Service goalkeeper was injured and one of the managers said ‘I wish I’d known you were here - you could have played for us today’,” said Philip.
“It went from there. I told them I’d help out if they were stuck and ended up putting my name on a form. I signed a year’s contract.
“I’m really there as emergency cover but if they need me to step in, I’ll be ready. All being well, I’ll be playing some games this season.”
Philip, who once had a sponsorship deal with Umbro, won’t be stuck for goalkeeping gloves given his 20-year-old son Marc is currently on Glenavon’s books.
“I still play football with my mates, sometimes outfield, and I actually bought new boots six months ago, so all I need is a pair of gloves,” he said.
“That won’t be a problem. Marc was with Dundela last season and now he’s back with Glenavon. He has umpteen pairs of gloves, so I’ll have plenty of options.”
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