Many footballers have long hung up their boots by the time they reach their 40s.
Alan Camsell, however, was only getting started.
Some 50 years on, he clearly has little intention of slowing down any time soon.
Having recently turned 90, Alan is believed to be the oldest goalkeeper in the world to still be playing. A much-loved figure between the sticks at local side Penrhyn Bay Stollers FC, a walking football team based in Llandudno, his extraordinary playing career has seen him recognised by a Sky Bet campaign, Real Football Number Ones, which aims to honour the biggest heroes of grassroots football.
"It was one huge laugh when I was nominated," he tells WalesOnline. "The whole family thought it was hilarious. To me I'm just doing a normal activity. Now there's suddenly all this fuss made over me because of my age.
"One member of my family set up an Instagram with the name 'gerihatric', which does get people laughing. As a family we're all like that."
Alan, who has even played on the same team as two of his grandchildren during his time on the pitch, hasn't yet heard of any other contenders for his title of world's oldest keeper.
"I know that when it was announced I was the oldest goalkeeper in the world, it was a story that went viral. It went to Canada, Argentina, America, Australia, South Africa. Even a Russian company had publicised it.
"But nobody's challenged me, so I must be the oldest!"
Born and raised as a fanatical Sunderland supporter in County Durham, Alan never got the chance to play the game he loved during his younger years due to his involvement in the family business.
"I didn't start playing until I was 40," he explains. "The family businesses kept us so occupied over Saturdays and Sundays that sport was never a thing.
"It was a family hairdressing business. Saturday was the busiest day and Sunday was a day of repairs, painting, and so on.
"I always followed a team, but never got an opportunity to play.
"It wasn't until I had a change of career that I found out I had time to play.
"I'm still playing catch-up now!"
Alan moved to north Wales in 1972, where he went from practicing as a hairdresser to becoming a teacher at a local college.
"The college ran sport activities and I was joining in with football and netball and I found my interest was in the five-a-side football.
"It took off from there. That was it until I had a knee replacement a few years ago.
"You don't get to my age and not have a few things wrong with you!"
Indeed, there are a number of ailments that have tried, and failed, to stunt Alan's playing career.
"I had a pacemaker fitted in October. It's working a treat. I've got a 24-year-old hip and a seven-year-old knee.
"But I make certain it doesn't affect me in goal."
Alan makes sure he's fully padded up come matchday in order to offer his body extra protection, but any opposition striker would be sorely mistaken if they believed they were coming up against a feeble pushover in goal.
"I hate balls going past me and I hate it when my defenders aren't doing their job," he says. And he means it.
"I didn't actually start as a goalkeeper. Before I was the one scoring the goals. I was quite nippy and quite fast. But as you get older, you've got to stop for a breather and that was in goal.
"The spells in goal lasted longer and longer."
Alan's team are part of the Wales Walking Football league, which has over 60 sides across Wales. Penrhyn are currently in a league of 10, who play each other every Sunday in a round-robin tournament, while there's also a cup competition and friendlies to squeeze in. It's a busy calendar, but one he immensely enjoys.
Then again, anyone thinking walking football is simply a, pardon the expression, walk in the park, is sorely mistaken.
"When people are watching it, they're always very impressed by the speed with which everything moves.
"The passing is excellent. The positioning is very much the same. It's still quite fast moving.
"And of course when they shoot at goal, there's no difference if they're running or not, they still hit it hard!"
Alan joined the team six years ago and his initial interest in playing was unsurprisingly met with a few raised eyebrows.
But he's now a beloved member of the dressing room, and there's little chance of him hanging up the gloves any time soon.
"I saw an advert on Facebook, rang the number and explained I was 84 but that I wanted to join the team, " he remembers.
"I could hear the hesitation at the other end. But once I turned up and found I was still up to it, I became one of the gang.
"People were probably fearful, wondering if someone in their 80s was even going to survive a game!
"But once you've proved your worth, you're alright."
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