They say that these days 40 is the new 30… well, at Siddington Football Club it would probably be more accurate to say that 50 is the new 30.

That’s because their team of golden oldies have been winning trophies for fun since reforming six-and-a-half years ago.

Not that putting cups on the mantelpiece is the be-all and end-all for the Cirencester League club.

“It’s all about having fun,” said manager Paul Fenwick, who himself has played in goal for the club this season at the grand old age of 55.

“When it was decided to reform the club I said I wanted a team of older players who wanted to play for the fun of it and just enjoy playing football.”

They’re certainly doing that – they have an average age of more than 40 – but an added bonus is the trophies they’ve been winning along the way.

“We’ve won a couple of leagues, we’ve won cups,” said Fenwick. “A couple of years ago we did the treble which was incredible.

“And last season we also reached a County Cup final.”

That defeat to North Nibley – they lost with the last kick of the game – still wrankles with Fenwick.

“We froze on the day,” he admitted.

But that was a minor blip in what has been one of the area’s big success stories in recent times.

“We like playing together as a team,” said Fenwick. “Three years ago we were playing in a cup semi-final. We were 2-0 up at half-time and we could hear their players saying, ‘We’ll beat these grandads’ as they walked off. We won the game 5-0.”

It’s a remarkable tale and two of the real golden oldies who still turn out occasionally for the club are closing in on their 60th birthdays – Mickey Richens and Andy Sutton who are 59 and 58 respectively.

And while Fenwick is the man calling the shots on match-day, the man who does so much behind the scenes to ensure that the club remain a going concern is secretary Martin Winter.

“The club wouldn’t survive without Martin,” said Fenwick. “He’s got the most important job at the club.”

And Winter certainly does his bit for the club he helped reform three or four years after it had originally folded.

“I’m the general dogsbody,” he laughed. “I mark out the pitch, I get someone to cut the grass and I help with a lot of the club’s fundraising.”

He also still plays occasionally – although at the age of 46 you would hardly call him the old man of the team!

“It was a few weeks ago and it was my first game for three years,” laughed Winter. “Our goalkeeper Mark Ayres got injured so I said I’d play.”

Not that they were easy boots to fill.

“Mark Ayres is a legend at the club,” said Winter. “He’s 51 and he’s absolutely brilliant. He’s our captain and his team talks are fantastic.”

So if Winter was missing a spring in his step as he went into the game it would have been understandable, so how did he get on?

“We won 9-1,” he laughed. “It went okay. In fact I told the manager that he should name an unchanged side for the following week.”

He didn’t, of course, but Winter, who is born and bred in Siddington although he lives just down the road in Cirencester these days, was still there on the sidelines, cheering the club on as he does every Saturday whether they are home or away.

Football has been a big part of his life for many years now. He started off as a left-back before taking over the gloves when a goalkeeper failed to show, and stayed between the sticks for much of his playing career which took in spells at Beeches, Stratton and South Cerney.

He’s gained plenty of experience in that time of course and experience is something that is pretty much a given at Siddington FC.

So who are some of the other players at the club who are proving that age is no barrier to success – or having fun?

“Jack Baverstock,” said Winter. “He’s in his 30s and one of the youngest players we’ve got. He’s a class centre-back when he’s on his game and wins everything in the air. He’s the son of former Cheltenham Town player Ray Baverstock who signed on with us a few years ago. Ray still comes and watches us play.

“Then there’s Terry Larbey, Justin Lowe and the King brothers – Dennis and Declan. Dennis was our top goalscorer last season with 42.

“Then there’s Richard Walsh, Colin Holness and Johnny Reeves. Johnny is the best midfielder in the league. He used to play for Supermarine and can spread the ball around the park.

“We’ve also got James Griffin and James Richards. We’ve got 25 signed on.”

Their post-match home is the pub in the heart of the village of Siddington – The Greyhound – which is possibly not the most appropriately named place to go for a drink for a team of veteran footballers who prefer to let the ball do the work rather than their legs!

“Yes, we’ve got a couple of players who are a bit overweight,” laughed Winter, “but we’re old school. We’ve got a good team spirit and we win together and lose together.”

It’s a philosophy that seems to be working very well indeed!