"I've been organising the games since 1981. I played football at school, naturally, although I wasn't a goalkeeper at the time. Then I stopped playing until I was 35 years of age but I have been playing sixaside football ever since."
"I stopped for about two or three months - but I love the game so much, I just had to continue,"
"He's got so much experience, his positioning is incredible and so he's difficult to score past. Leo is a very passionate and reliable person and he's a role model for all of us."
"I don't know any other football game where they've got a goalkeeper who's not only that age but also has been playing for 40odd years and been running it."
Leo Gottesman has run and played as goalkeeper for a Barnet six-a-side football group since 1981 and continues to play weekly at age 82. He returned to the game after stopping in midlife and resumed full participation following a heart attack 25 years ago. Gottesman handles team administration including bookings, subscriptions, player numbers and kit washing, while also guarding the goal each Sunday. Teammates praise his positioning, experience, passion and reliability and describe the group as competitively spirited with strong camaraderie. Key goalkeeper traits cited include flexibility and strong anticipation.
Read at www.bbc.com
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