YOU could be forgiven for thinking Phil Spurr, who celebrated his 49th birthday on Saturday, was Calstock Football Club?s most senior player.

But in fact the prolific striker is a young whipper-snapper compared to the team?s 55-year-old goalkeeper, Mick Yarwood.

Mick signed for Calstock early this season when the team was in the middle of a losing streak, and seems to have rejuvenated the side.

A series of clean sheets and some spectacular saves which would put the most spritely keeper to shame, have helped lift the club to a respectable mid-table position in the Bodmin Trophies Duchy division four (East).

Manager Ian Cook said: ?He?s a quality keeper. He may not be as agile as some of the younger players but his sense of positioning is unbelievable. He pulls off some fantastic saves.

?We?ve got quite a bizarre mix of ages here. Six of our players are only 17, then there?s a 21-year-old, and then a gap between him and two players who are 28 and 29. It?s a pretty unusual line-up really.?

Mick, who comes from Liverpool, said he hopes his younger team mates have been inspired by his competitive spirit on the field.

?They were losing 10 and 12 nil until I joined,? he said. ?I think the young ones look at me and Phil and think if we can do it, then so can they. It gives them confidence.

Mick not only proves that age is no barrier to sporting success, but also clearly demonstrates that disability need not be an obstacle. He is almost blind in his left eye.

He said: ?I?ve only got five per cent vision in that eye, but it?s not a problem because I?ve got 20/20 sight in the other one.?

Mick said he would like to continue playing football for another five years. ?I?ve set my sights on packing it in at 60, but for the time being I absolutely love the game.?

And his fellow veteran, Phil Spurr, can certainly teach the future stars a thing or two.

Ian Cook said his formidable striker, who joined the team in 1988, is a constant threat to defenders. ?Phil has been an inspiration to us all,? he said.

?He?s a pretty big bloke. When you?re defending against him it?s like standing behind an oak tree. You can?t even see the ball because his legs are like tree trunks!?

Phil, who lives in

Calstock and runs a music project in Plymouth, also plays football for the College of St Mark and St John in the Devon Veterans? League.

?The only problem playing the younger lads is you have to go past them several times because each time you beat them they catch you up again!?