Richhill legend Willie Anderson is a prime example of age being just a number after scoring a winning penalty on Saturday at 63 – and he has no plans to slow down any time soon with a deep love for football driving him on.

Anderson, who also represents Northern Ireland’s veterans team, has been part of the Co Armagh club for 30 years and serves as treasurer, but every weekend doubles up roles by pulling on his boots for Richhill Colts.

In their most recent Lonsdale League clash against Cookstown Olympic Colts, Anderson calmly stepped up to dispatch his spot-kick with aplomb, sealing victory after the match had finished 3-3.

"The guy who was running the team was doing the toss with the referee for who was going to take penalties first,” reflected Anderson to the News Letter. “They'd been asking for volunteers over at the sideline and I put my hand up for the fifth one...when it came round to the fifth penalty, the captain asked 'who's next?' and I said 'me!' - he gave me a look!

placeholder image — Willie Anderson is still playing for Richhill AFC at 63. (Photo by Richhill AFC)

"Thankfully I put it away. Was I confident? No - and the captain definitely wasn't! I wouldn't have been a penalty taker in the past but I stuck my hand up.”

While footballers worldwide search for the secret to longevity, testing out special diets or training programmes in order to extend their careers, it appears Anderson has found the answer – passion.

Anderson played his final match for Richhill’s senior team aged 50 before moving down the divisions alongside being convinced to join Northern Ireland’s over-age teams by Dessie Edgar – a neighbour who spent time at the likes of Portadown, Coleraine and Glenavon during his career.

With a large majority of Anderson’s Richhill team-mates at least half his age – if not significantly more – he possesses an inner competitive fire, which is on display even at local five-a-side matches.

"I'm not as sharp as the young lads I'm playing against but I'm hanging in there!" he laughed. “I would go with the Colts most weeks, I wouldn't be playing full games.

"They were stuck last Saturday so I ended up playing a half, but normally I would do 20 minutes at the end.

"I would love to be playing full matches but there's young lads there...I'm not going to be arguing to be starting in front of some 18-year-old.

"Terry Nicholson is still playing in our over-65s team and he's 83! I have the same mentality as Terry to keep going until you can't.

"You could get an injury at any time and that's the end of the whole show, but I'll be sticking at it for as long as I can.

"For me, it (the reason he’s able to still play) was that I never quit playing football throughout my life.

"Keeping going is the secret to the whole thing for me...I'm not on any special diet – if I knew of some wonder drug to keep going I would be marketing it!

"Your body tells you what you're capable of doing and it hasn't told me to stop yet.

"That's a big thing, but more importantly, I just love playing football. I always have...I enjoy getting out to play a game.

"We have a five-a-side competition going on in Richhill and I try not to take it too seriously, but I do! I love the competition."

Continuing to play football has also helped break down age barriers for Anderson, who sits in the local pub with teenage team-mates discussing the events of a Saturday afternoon, while he’s a friendly face for many around the village – connections formed by the sport he still loves deeply.

Extending his career has opened up significant opportunities – next week, Anderson will travel with Northern Ireland’s veterans to Spain for a tournament before a trip to Copenhagen in April.

Anderson is embracing every moment of being on the pitch – and there’s no sign of him hanging up the boots any time soon.

"There are boys in the veterans team older than me...I'd love to run about into my 80s like Terry!” he said. “Goalkeeper is a bit different to playing outfield, but with the Northern Ireland veterans team, we have recently formed an over-65s team.

"The ones that are my age, it starts at over-50s, the majority of them are still going and it's great to see some older than me still playing.

"I got involved when I was about 50 and it has been fantastic, they are a great bunch of lads.

"We're going to Spain next week for a tournament against England, Wales and Denmark, and then we're going to Copenhagen in May for world five-a-side over-60s. Those trips are great.

"I only ever played intermediate football so it's great to get playing with the guys who were in the Irish League in their day. It has been a great experience."