Veteran goalkeeper, 70, to return to pitch for official game in Spain

At an age when many veteran footballers might prefer to be regaling grandchildren, friends and assorted barflies with slightly embroidered tales of their former sporting prowess, 70-year-old Ángel Mateos González is heading back on to the pitch. The Spaniard, who retired from competitive football 27 years ago, is due to play in goal for the Asturian team CD Colunga in a fifth-tier match this Sunday. If all goes to plan and he pulls on his gloves, he will reportedly become the oldest player to take part in an official match in Spain. Mateos, who has been helping out Colunga’s keepers during this season’s Tercera Federación group two campaign, said he did not know whether he would play the full game. “I’m going to train with the team this week but I still don’t know if I’ll play the entire 90 minutes or just the first half,” he told the local newspaper El Comercio . In a post on Facebook, the northern Spanish team said they had decided to play Mateos in their match against regional rivals CD Praviano to celebrate the goalie and his lifelong dedication to work and to football. The side denied the move was a stunt, adding that the decision was about recognising a man who represented its values. “Mateos perfectly embodies what we stand for at CD Colunga: passion; consistency; respect for football, and a way of experiencing the sport that transcends age,” the statement said. “Age is secondary. What matters is attitude, dedication and commitment to the sport. …