Britain's oldest striker, 90, still bangs in the goals three times a week
Britain's oldest striker is still banging in the goals for his local football team three times a week - at the grand age of 90.
Sprightly Mike Fisher - nicknamed Ninja by teammates - is still averaging a hattrick every game following a footballing career which began 75 years ago in 1949. The former RAF veteran turns out every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for two local walking football teams after he started playing for them aged 82.
Previously to that, granddad-of-two Mike, of Bloxwich, West Midlands, played up until his 40s before taking a break from the beautiful game. After falling back in love with the sport in his 80s he now regularly appears for Old Corinthians, who play at non-league Rushall Olympic's ground in Walsall.
The goal-machine even celebrated his 90th birthday with team mates last week by bagging five goals in a game against opponents 40 years younger than him. Dad-of-two Mike, a former machine shop worker, said: "They all call me Ninja. Because they say I'm gone in the blink of an eye, just like that. One minute you think you've collared me and the next minute I'm gone and the ball is in the back of the net.
Mike Fisher and the rest of his team (Anita Maric/SWNS)"If you ask anyone if they play with Mike Fisher, they won't have a clue who you're on about - but if you say 'do you play with Ninja' they will know who you mean. I still love football and I'll keep going for as long as I can - or at least while I'm still scoring on a regular basis. That feeling of scoring goals never gets old - even if I am.
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"I've lost count of how many I've scored but I get four of five a game usually and have been playing walking football three times a week regularly for eight years. A few times I have scored ten in a match."
Mike began playing when he was aged 14 in the Luton and District League in his native Bedfordshire before he moved to the Midlands after meeting his wife. He fell for partner Doris in Blackpool, where he was stationed with the RAF, while she was visiting the Blackpool Illuminations in the 50s. Mike served in Libya, Egypt and Iraq in 1954 as an RAF motor mechanic and married Doris upon his return to Britain in 1954.
They moved to the Black Country and went on to have two children together. Doris passed away four years ago at the age of 87. Luton Town fan Mike added: "The football gives me a reason to still get up and out and stay fit and active. I don't want to be sitting in a chair all day long. I began playing in Luton when I was around 14/15 and I played as a forward or as wide forward as it was known then.
"I played for a team called Yale once I moved up to the Black Country and then played with Wednesfield Civil Defence when I was around 33/34. It was in the Wolverhampton Amateur League but then once I got into my 40s I slowed down and stopped playing for a while. I think most people do in their 40s.
Mike Fisher playing walking football (Anita Maric/SWNS)"It wasn't until I moved into my flat in Bloxwich that we went along to this community centre and they asked what sort of thing I enjoyed doing. I said I used to play football and they mentioned the walking football, although I thought I'd be way too old at 82, I just gave it a go.
"All of a sudden, I started playing against people in their 50s and 60s and realised I could still do it. I have slowed down a bit, my reactions aren't what they used to be but I don't ache afterwards or anything. I still feel fit and I've been lucky with no injuries. These days I just wait up front to stick it in the net if I'm needed. I'm a bit like Jimmy Greaves, I suppose.
"He was the classic poacher, he used to hug the box and score goals from close range. I don't run from one end of the pitch to the other anymore - if I stray too far, they tell me off and tell me to go back up front and we'll give the ball to you."
Old Corinthians team mate Mike Stevnson, 76, said: "He comes, he scores. Can there be anyone else still playing regular football at this great age?" John Hemming, at 58 the youngest member of the Old Corinthians side, added: "He's an out-and-out striker. He waits on the edge of the box. We set the goals up, you give the ball to Ninj, and he will score."
As well as playing for Old Corinthians, he also plays indoor games twice a week for an hour a time at Sneyd Community Centre. Mike added: "I don't know of any 90-year-olds who still play, certainly not three times a week. I've heard of a few in their 80s but not 90. I just hope I'm still playing when I'm 91, that's my next aim."
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