Pensioner McAuley growing old gracefully
West Brom defender Gareth McAuley is proving himself to be something of an ageless wonder but claims even he felt old when told he was entitled to his pension on his birthday two years ago.
McAuley turned 37 this week but it was his 35th birthday that confirmed once and for all, he was now considered past it by footballing standards.
“I’ve enjoyed my last two birthdays, it’s the 35th that was the difficult one really,” explained McAuley.
“The PFA send you a letter when you’re 35 and tell you that you’re now entitled to your pension.
“Your insurance company also sends you a letter saying thanks very much for all your years as a customer but you’re no longer insurable.
“That birthday when I got those dropped in with my cards wasn’t the best!”
On the field, McAuley looks anything but a pensioner, shaking off any potential tiredness from his exertions with Northern Ireland at Euro 2016 over the summer to have started all of West Brom’s league and cup games this term.
He is already the oldest outfield player to represent the club in the Premier League but insists he is still loving what he is doing.
“I don’t think there’s a secret to it, I think it’s more that I have a desire to do it and that I enjoy doing it. I enjoy coming to work and it’s a pleasure to be here,” he added.
“I think the biggest thing is to be conditioned to playing in this league.
“You get a chance to work on things in the Premier League more so than you do in the Football League where it’s play-recover, play-recover throughout the season.
“I’m not stupid enough to think it’s going to last forever. But if I do enough of the right things and if I still have the desire to put myself through it then I don’t see why I can’t keep on doing it.”
