Tomorrow (Saturday 13 February) you might very well see the oldest collection of professional footballers around on the same pitch.
Bruno Saltor, 35, Bobby Zamora, 35, and Bolton’s Emile Heskey, 38, are all likely to be in action at the Amex Stadium.
Heskey made his debut for current Premier League leaders Leicester City way back in 1994.
Albion boss Chris Hughton told Brighton and Hove News that he thought that advances in sports science could see more players play into their late thirties and perhaps early forties.
Hughton said: “Nowadays you can monitor a player’s load on a daily basis. The facilities we have and also the size of the squad plays a part.
“Going back, there were tighter squads and more pressure on individuals to play game after game. I think that will be the trend going forward and I think you will see individuals fit and available in parts of their careers you wouldn’t have seen in years gone by.”
Hughton wasn’t so sure, however, that the current football league record would be broken. That is currently held by Neil McBain who is still the oldest player to compete in a football league match. McBain was 51 when he turned out for New Brighton in 1947.
Sir Stanley Matthews played for Stoke City in the football league at the age of 50 and Albion’s oldest player so far was in the same Seagulls team as Zamora back in 2003. Dave Beasant was 44 when he kept goal for Albion at Grimsby.
Albion’s oldest outfield player so far is Jimmy Case who was 40 when he played for the Seagulls in 1994.
Albion take on Bolton Wanderers at the Amex tomorrow (Saturday 13 February) with a 3pm kick off.
