Yahoo News Darlington born sportsman teases football comeback as he celebrates 100th birthday
A centenarian sportsman who played six-a-side football until he was almost 90 – though he insisted he peaked in 1946 – celebrated his milestone birthday last week wondering if anyone might give him a game.
“I’d love to have a game to mark the occasion but these days I’m not sure anyone would have me,” said Bill Smith, also a former professional cyclist and badly bruised amateur boxer, who turned 100 last week.
Born in Darlington, he lived in North Cowton – between Darlington and Northallerton – for many years. Bill now lives in care in Scorton but still enjoys a weekly pint or two at the Beeswing in East Cowton.
"I’m sure a couple of beers have helped get me this far. I’m looking forward to a few more yet,” he said.
Bill Smith says 'a couple of beers' have helped him reach 100-years-old (Image: MIKE AMOS)
His presents have included a visit with his daughter June Bindoff to watch Newcastle United play Brighton in the last game of the season against Brighton at St James’ Park, the ground around which he raced as a cyclist with Spartan Wheelers in 1949.
Though he’d boxed with the Pioneer Corps – 34 defeats in 35 fights, he claims – Bill insists that cycling was the more dangerous sport.
“People only came to see the blood. There were some pretty spectacular pile-ups,” he said.
As a youngster, he’d played for Darlington Victoria Rovers. When dropped at the age of 45 he blamed the youth policy.
After retiring as chief draughtsman with Northern Gas, he spent Monday mornings playing football at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington, often against men less than half his age. Regular opponents included former England schools international Steve Holbrook, now 71, who made 104 appearances for Darlington.
Bill Smith in five-a-side football action at The Dolphin Centre, Darlington in 201, when he was aged 85 (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)
A keen gardener and fisherman, he also kept teammates well-supplied with salmon and leeks.
The Northern Echo’s Backtrack column recorded his 70th and 80th birthdays and was again a spectator when Bill was 86 and still being stotted off the wall bars, a man reluctant to hang up his boots at an age when most had hung up their slippers.
“Bill stroked a pass like most octogenarians might stroke a docile cat, effortlessly and with evident satisfaction” the column observed.
Bill Smith in five-a-side football action at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington in 2004 (Image: STUART BOULTON)
The most memorable occasion may have been on his 70th, however, when teammates organised a strippergram for the post-match pub.
Most read:
Bill told anyone who asked that it was the wife. “There was hell on at home” he later admitted.
His birthday, on Thursday, June 20, was marked by a party at the care home and a gathering two days later at Mrs Bindoff’s home.
“It would be lovely if I could get a game of football as well,” said Bill.
