In safe hands... is league’s star player Robert, 69, Wales’ oldest goalkeeper?
AT 69 Robert Norfolk may be Wales’ oldest footballer.
But, after being named player of the season, this football fanatic has no intention of hanging up his boots just yet.
Mr Norfolk has been playing football since he was 15 and now plays for a six-a-side team in Bridgend with his three sons and nephew.
The family team play in honour of the veteran’s own father, who set and managed the St Brides 76 team with his son in goal.
Despite playing footballers half their age, this year Mr Norfolk’s team came top of Bridgend’s Sunday six-a-side Leisure League.
Son and fellow team member Darren Norfolk said: “We decided to set up a six-a-side team and the first person to say he’d have a go was my dad.
“He’s still very brave and very agile.
“There’s a cut on his nose in the team picture and he got that from div- ing near people’s feet.”
The 44-year-old added that with the team’s best attendance record, his father has become a popular figure among other teams.
He said: “He’s still a very, very good goalie and he’s an absolute gen- tleman.
“We’re all absolutely football mad and we all support West Brom.”
At his age Mr Norfolk is careful to keep his injuries hidden from a worried wife.
His son said: “[My mum’s] very proud of the fact that he’s still playing, but he does keep a few injuries hidden from her.”
For fellow team member and son Wayne Norfolk, football has always been a family affair.
He said: “We grew up watching my dad play football and now I’m 48.
“He’s on the team by merit not just novelty, he’s still as energetic as he was back then.”
After being awarded player of the year for the entire league, Mr Norfolk said motivation lay with playing “purely for enjoyment”.
The grandfather of three said: “It’s about the sport but we like it when we win.
“It’s purely for a love of playing, you have to have that.”