Veteran Michael Heywood from Shrewsbury is living proof that you’re never too old to represent your country – after receiving his first England hockey call-up at the ripe old age of 70.
Michael has been selected to play for the England over-70 team at the European Senior Grand Masters tournament in Barcelona later this month, writes DAVID SEADON.
Delighted by his call-up, he puts his success down to playing a number of sports regularly to keep himself fit.
He has represented both Shrewsbury, for whom he played for more than 20 years, and Shropshire at hockey and still plays for Wolverhampton-based Old Wulfrunians, while skiing and golf are among the other sports he finds time for.
He said: “It’s nice to stay reasonably fit. By doing so I can continue to play hockey at all levels and I definitely recommend it to people of any age.”
The England over-70 team will play four matches in Barcelona – two against Germany and two against the Netherlands – with the opening games taking place on Saturday, March 22 and the tournament reaching its climax on the Monday.
With the World Cup fast approaching in Hong Kong during September, Michael is hopeful that a good tournament in Barcelona could earn him another England call-up.
