A Perth pensioner is continuing to enjoy a weekly game of football at McDiarmid Park - at the age of 80.
Allan McCulloch joins son David (54) and grandson Reuben (16) every Tuesday night for a friendly but competitive eight-a-side kick around.
And at the most recent meet, which happened to be his birthday, Allan received a special gift from the group of “regulars” who share the field.
They decided to honour the occasion by buying him a Scotland football shirt with his name on it and presenting it to him at the start of the game.
While Allan is the oldest player by a considerable margin, he certainly “holds his own” among the youngsters.
Son David explained: “It is eight-a-side across the pitch. It is not an amazing standard but there are young guys trying to go past him, but his timing is right and he stops them.
“He is competitive, but very quiet about it. He quietly gets on with it but there is a determination.
"He has never really been into watching football. He just always plays. I remember playing five-a-side with him growing up. He likes football, he has been playing for years and has kept it going.”
Allan had no idea that his football pals had pulled together to mark his milestone moment.
And Perthshire Advertiser photographer Richard Wilkins even headed down for the 8pm kick-off to capture the special occasion.
“My dad didn’t know about the surprise,” smiled David. “I don’t think he wanted people to know he was 80!”
Playing the generation game is very much a special experience for Allan, David and Reuben.
David explained: “It feels significant to have three generations of the same family playing football together.
Reuben actually had a cold earlier in the week but said he still wanted to come down for it on Tuesday. We have played together from when he was young and now he plays for a team through in Dundee.”
Lacing up the boots at the age of 80 is not for everyone but an all-round active lifestyle is clearly benefitting Allan.
“When you are a certain age, people maybe put a limitation on you,” David said. “Maybe they make a judgement.
“But he is always active and obviously likes to keep fit. He played squash up until the pandemic and still does parkrun.
“We have always had a dog so would go for long walks and I think, just that, helps keep you healthy.
“My sisters have got Clydesdales up in the Kinnoull Hill area and he is often helping them. That is physical work too.
“The week of really bad snow before Christmas, the horses needed fed but he couldn’t get the car out the drive.
“So he walked from Glasgow Road near Cherrybank, through town, across the bridge and up to Kinnoull Hill and back - in the snow!”
David concluded: “You would never think he is 80 and a lot of the guys at the football didn’t realise it.”
