Seventy-year-old John Airey helped Penrith over-45s football team to win the grandly titled Intercontinental Cup on Saturday in driving wind and rain at Maryport’s Netherhall Community Sports Centre.
The six-team competition included Enschede from Holland, two teams from Hazelmere in London, one from Canterbury and Frostoms from Workington.
Teams played each other once on the day with Penrith — managed by Darren Wilson and Liam Byrne — recording three wins, a draw and they had already been crowned champions by the time they lost the last game, 1-0 to Enschede.
Penrith’s Graham Emerson and Andy Orton up front terrorised opposing defences, scoring seven goals between them, and were ably assisted by 70-year-old veteran left back John Airey.
The team have been invited for a return tournament in Holland in 2024.
Holding the cup, and being given the trophy to take home for a month, veteran Airey said: “My grandkids won’t believe it when they see this!”
