THE Abergavenny man who still competes in the regular five-a-side Monday nights he started at the town's leisure centre in 1976 will turn 70 on Saturday.

And the veteran footballer is guaranteed to tackle that mighty milestone with a spring in his step, because the man all the local soccer community know as Billy Faulds still enjoys a spot of park-life and kicking the ball around with his mates more than ever.

Age really is just a number to former Abergavenny Thursdays player Billy Faulds, whose life-long love affair with the beautiful game saw him playing professional football in South Africa during the tail end of the 1960s.

Moving to Abergavenny in the early 1970s, Billy played for the Thursdays for many years before starting the five-a-side tournaments on Monday nights at the leisure centre.

Through the years Billy has earned the respect and friendship of many a footballer, one such man is Chris West, who at 64 is the second oldest player (Billy of course takes top spot) to be playing in the five-a-side nights.

Chris told the Chronicle, "Billy is small in stature but big in heart and determination. A man you would want in your side in times of adversity. He is what I'd call a great man."

Chris's sentiments are reflected by all of the five-a-side lads who would like to wish Billy a very happy birthday and thank him for all his hard work .