For more than 20 years, Stockport FC has usually been the sole English representative in the World Medical and Health Games.
There has been variable success, and other English teams have come and gone, but we have endured – and inevitably aged, too.
We now compete in the over- 35s section for 11-a-side football. The games encompass many different sports, not just football, and this distinguishes them from the recent Medical World Cup, which is a football tournament only and of a slightly higher standard.
Players have historically been university team standard in their youth, and need to have been doing some form of aerobic exercise (preferably with a football) in the past few years, as there are six matches in seven days.
This year we need a few new players, and we would be interested in hearing from anyone over 35 from medicine or aligned professions. The tournament this year is in the pretty Croatian town of Porec, and the competition runs from 3 to 10 July.
We aim to enjoy our sport, but the sociable aspects of the tour are equally important.
We are the longest established team competing at the games and a bit of an institution.
If you're interested, please email peter.budden@nhs.net.
From Dr Peter Budden, Eccles, Lancashire
