Soccer at 73

When John tried to return to the game he excelled in as a kid, it backfired. Luckily, we still had my mother's cane, and plenty of Advil. 

He's go-karted, motorcycle-raced, run and bicycled, but John's heart has always been with his first love -- soccer. He started playing at age seven, was the 1959 West Van Soccer Boy of the Year at 14, and played in the First Division Mainland League for North Shore United at age 16.

He quit playing at age 20 when work, then his other sports and various commitments turned him in other directions. But when a Saltspring neighbour suggested going out for pickup game a few months ago, it was fun! Suddenly, John was doing more running and kicking a ball around than bicycling. He signed up for indoor soccer at the community centre and found a weekly outdoor pickup group.

Ten games later, he is on the couch with Advil and a cane. There are plans for physiotherapy and an X-ray when the pain is dull enough that he can leave the house again.

Seventy-three, he is starting to think, may be a bit late for a comeback.