Bromyard's Dave Gilbert plays for England over 70s football

“Born and bred” in the Herefordshire market town of Bromyard where his dad ran a fruit and veg and fish and chip shop, Dave Gilbert, 73, was approached by a fellow player in his Hereford Veteran’s League team of Fownhope about going to a trial for England’s over 70s football team.

Mr Gilbert's signature celebration after their team scores a goal! (Image: ROB DAVIES)

He received a phone call the day after playing for the Worcestershire over-60s and over-65s in Droitwich.

"They asked me did I want to go down to Chelmsford in Essex for an England over-70s trial which, up until that point, I had no idea existed," he said.

Mr Gilbert will play in any defensive footballing position. (Image: ROB DAVIES)

Nevertheless, he successfully made the team and has so far played eight games, all friendlies so far. 

But what the over-70s are facing next definitely won’t be. The team will this year be playing in the over-70s and over-75s World Cup in Cardiff from August 20 to 24. Teams from all over the globe will be travelling to the Welsh capital to compete.

Dave Gilbert with the over 70s football team (Image: David Blaylock)

“From thinking my football career was over, just playing in the veteran’s league and thinking ‘I’m getting too old for this’ to playing for one of the England over 70s teams, I was amazed, and I’m still amazed," Mr Gilbert said.

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Football has been a big part of Mr Gilbert’s life from the age of 11.

“When you’re a kid, you dream of playing for England, but I didn’t think that from the time I first got interested in football it was going to be 60 years before I did," he said.

Mr Gilbert is so proud to have been accepted into the team! (Image: ROB DAVIES)

Mr Gilbert has “always prided myself on being one of the fittest”.  

Against suggestions that he was playing “past his time”, Mr Gilbert played for Bromyard until the age of 55 and has been running on Bromyard Downs and doing almost 300 sit-ups a day to train for the World Cup.

Mr Gilbert and the over-70s will be playing for England in the Cardiff world cup this August. (Image: ROB DAVIES)

Despite his intensive preparation, Mr Gilbert doesn’t think he’ll truly believe his dream of playing for England has come true “until we get down to Cardiff and play our first game.”