World Cup anniversary: England to play Germany in Oldham

England's official veterans team, the Silver Lions, are playing against Germany at Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park today, honouring the 60th anniversary of England's 1966 World Cup triumph.

The match, kicking off at 3pm, is set to be a unique spectacle, with a documentary crew capturing the veterans' journey to the game.

The team is made up of diverse characters, including a former magician, mathematician, while the current team manager was at the 1966 final.

Also on the squad list are an 80-year-old nominee for Guernsey’s sports personality of the year, a popular BBC radio presenter and ex-punk singer, and 'International Johnny' from Grimsby.

Despite facing significant health challenges such as a quadruple heart bypass, stroke, and eye cancer, all team members are determined to be match-ready.

Their fitness is being checked by York St John University’s Institute for Health and Care Inclusion (IHCI).

The documentary aims to highlight the benefits of healthy ageing, following the Silver Lions as 'super agers.'

The production addresses a critical societal issue - men in England currently have a life expectancy four years shorter than women and spend a fifth of their lives in poor health.

A recent Health and Social Care Committee report emphasised the importance of physical activity for older people, suggesting it should be central to the NHS’s support, equating its importance to medication provision.