NEWLY retired 60-year-old Fred Allen is not content with having a Sunday morning kick-about with one of his four grandchildren.

Instead, the former Bury Times editor spends Sunday mornings playing for the BSF Over-35s League team Ainsworth Fossils B, where he can be seen battling away on the right side of the midfield.

And it has become something of a family affair, with Fred's 35-year-old son Mark now playing alongside him in centre midfield.

Fred's 50th season as a footballer has been blighted by postponements as local grounds have been badly affected by the recent wet weather, but the Fossils returned to action against Breightmet United - two places above them in Division Three - in a 2-2 draw.

Ainsworth Fossils B are third from bottom the the league, but have games in hand over the closest rivals because of the recent cancellations.

Fred is a former Bolton Combination player, having featured for Breightmet United and Radcliffe St Mary's and several Sunday football teams, notably Radcliffe side the Three Arrows, and the Lancashire Fusiliers in Bury.

Fred is also known as Bill in his other guise as cricketer for Radcliffe and Little Hulton, and to his former colleagues at the Bury Times and The Bolton News.

His amateur football career was given a new lease of life as a footballer when the over-35s league started in 1994.

The rules of the league encourage players to continue as long as possible. A system of rolling substitutions allows players to go off and return when they've had a breather, a flexibility which appeals to older footballers.

"I was a winger in my younger days, but now I'm more of a right-sided midfield man," said Bill.

"People often ask me why I'm still playing football. But what else is there to do at the weekend?

"I enjoy getting out in the wind and the rain on a Sunday morning and the rules of the veterans' league encourage you to keep playing."

Fred, a decent bowler in his time, no longer plays cricket, mainly because it so time consuming.

He added: "I love the game but I found it was too demanding time-wise."

lThe Division One and Two Cup finals of the BSF Over 35s will take place at Eagley Football Club on Sunday, April 15.

The Division One showdown between Turton and The Colliers Rest kicks-off at 10.30am, with the second final between Bay Mare Strollers and Pennington following at 2.30pm.