Tim Pollard was selected to represent England’s Over-80’s Hockey Team this year, joining ‘The Ancients’.
Last week, England’s Over-80’s Hockey Team played against the Dutch in their first match since 2019. England beat The Netherlands on both 27 and 28 April.
In the first match, England beat their opponents 1-0, then won against them a second time, the following day, with a final score of 2-1.
Mr Pollard said it was a “tremendous couple of days”.
“What is so nice, I played against the Dutch for such a long time, you’re seeing faces that you know,” he said. “It’s really a pleasant game. It’s a pleasure to play and I’d do it again.”
England O80s ???? claim victory over the Netherlands on home soil ????
???? https://t.co/rhBJYwXxUspic.twitter.com/Bz5nPiVbHB
— England Hockey (@EnglandHockey) April 28, 2022
Mr Pollard, who was goalie for the second match, said he couldn’t pick out just one highlight, and instead said he was happy “just playing for England.”
“It was very enjoyable. It’s a funny thing, when you get to this age group, you tend to think you’re going to be playing like you were 20 years ago and you don’t! There’s more mistakes,” he said.
“At this stage of life, the number of people who say, ‘What are you doing playing Hockey? You shouldn’t be playing!’… You tell all those other people around the world that are 75 to 80 they shouldn’t be playing and they do.
“When I find i’m a liability to the side I play with, I’ll pack it in.”
LISTEN…
80 years old… and ready to play for England
