KIDDERMINSTER footballer Kenny Ash got the call up for the England Over 65’s football team that recently played Wales at their national headquarters - Dragon Park.
The 69-year-old, who has completed over 50 consecutive seasons playing in the local Kidderminster and Bromsgrove leagues, was spotted last January 2020 playing in a Worcestershire County FA Vets team and was invited down to Hertfordshire for a get together with the England squad.
Although the Covid lock down prevented the planned England game against Wales taking place in May 2020, Mr Ash, of Foley Park, was invited back in October last year as the England squad made preparations for a rescheduled game to take place.
With the Covid lock down continuing through to 2021, the squad’s next get together was finally arranged for the end of May this year.
Mr Ash was selected to play in two friendly games for England against a Cambridge FA select XI and an Oxford FA select XI. He was then selected for the squad to play in the international game against Wales on June 21 – making it into the starting line up for the game at the magnificent Dragon Park ground in Newport.
On this occasion England lost 2-0, which Mr Ash thought was down to Wales’s superior tactical play as he felt the England team matched them for ability and fitness.
He said it was a great occasion and a wonderful honour for him at this stage of his career.
Mr Ash hopes to continue playing for the foreseeable future and has already been put on standby for the next England squad get together later in the year.
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