‘Artful Dodger’ Still Displaying his Football Magic at 76yrs

Otago Community Trust

New Zealand Masters Games

February 3-11

‘Artful Dodger’ Still Displaying his Football Magic at 76yrs

Derek Jay is the patron and a life member of the Mosgiel AFC and at 76yrs, the oldest player in the football competition at the Otago Community Trust New Zealand Masters Games.

Otherwise know as the ‘artful dodger’, Derek plays fullback for the Mosgiel Misfits in the 45+ age group. The youngest in the team is 45yrs.

His team mate David Young says Derek has this magic touch when he does a little twist with his hips which makes his defender thinks he’s taking the ball one way when in actual fact he’s taking it in the other direction. Hence his nickname.

“Dodge keeps younger guys on the bench. I struggle to stay on the field for half an hour but he’s there for at least 45minutes. He’s an inspiration for the guys in the team and for our younger players. Here’s a patron, who’s usually a figurehead, who still plays and has more hair than most of the team!”

The ‘artful dodger’ himself has no explanation for his nimbleness in fact he’s very nonchalant.

“I don’t think about myself as being particularly different. I’ve had no direct injuries from the game. I don’t do any training. I just had a bit of a warm up with the dads and the boys at the club. I just enjoy playing the game.”

Derek has a long association with football. He first played for Mosgiel when he was 15 years old. He played for Otago in the under 18s, the under 20s and for Otago seniors. He was also a founding member of the Dunedin City Football Club.

With just one loss from four the Mosgiel Misfits are still rating their chances to be on the medal podium by the end of the tournament, if and when they do they’ll be proudly led out by their patron. They won’t let him dodge this one.

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