Micky Algieri – a three time winner of veterans’ Football’s World Cup!
Micky Algieri has just returned from a month-long stay in Brisbane (three weeks) and then a deserved holiday with three of his team mates on the Gold Coast in Australia, with an amazing third successive gold medal as a regular member of the Wales’ Over 70s football team, in the annual World Cup
It was a great boost for Welsh Football for ‘The Golden Oldies’ that followed success in the two previous finals, which were played in Cardiff and Japan.
Congratulated by eager supporters – and over the loud-speaker system too!
We meet Micky regularly at the Bridge Meadow Stadium to watch Haverfordwest County and so in his first appearance back there watching The Bluebirds lose 3-0 to Cardiff Met we were delighted to present him with his special ‘Sporting Star’ badge in recognition of all his achievements.
It was nice to see supporters rushing up to say well done to this popular veteran football and hear his feat announced on the speakers before the teams came out. He has been a very good footballer all his life and won a string of medals with the top Johnston team of his era – but also has done great service to football in our county as a voluntary referee.
Straight back as a referee – and playing for Wales again
Then it was straight back to action here as a referee as soon as he returned, when he refereed two matches for Milford United and was expecting to officiate at least two more on the next Saturday since he regularly receives calls from local clubs like Milford United, Johnston, Pennar Robins and Broad Haven to ref their seconds or junior teams.
He is still playing football as well, because within seven days of his return he also played for Wales against Swansea Over 70s at Ocean Park and helped them to a 3-0 win!
Hot and humid at Cleveland
Out in Australia, Wales Over 70s took on teams from around the world and their six wins and a draw in the preliminary matches earned them a final place at a venue named Cleveland, some 40 miles away from where they were staying,
There they took on a strong team from Germany and they won with the only goal of the match, scored by striker Kevin James, who was a key player in the team alongside Peter Morgan, the main striker with six goals from the 13 they scored in their matches.
But they also conceded only two as proof of having a cracking goalkeeper in Alan Meacham (Swansea), and a strong back four.
Switch from right back to midfield worked a treat
Micky had played right back in the two previous competitions but a couple of injuries caused manager John Ross (Newport) to slot him in the midfield, where he played every match, other than the first one, where he had a touch of flu; a 0-0 draw against a strong Australia Gold XI.
The matches at Cleveland were played on what should have been grass pitches but the intense heat having burnt them brown so it was like playing on concrete over two 30 minute halves- and with the team having to play twice some days, followed by a day off. Micky and Co did well to make it a hat-trick. He played all the full 60 minutes for each match until the final, despite the heat made worse by high humidity,
And finally . .
Towards the end of the final, where he came very close to opening the scoring in the first half from a clever run through the middle which saw his shot hit the post and rebound clear, his 100% appearances were brought to an abrupt halt from a heavy late tackle from a burly German defender which sent him crashing to the ground and he was forced to sit out the remaining few minutes.
When the final whistle went, there were great celebrations from Micky and Co because they were a very close-knit unit, despite having players from Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, Barry and Penybont alongside the only Pembrokeshire participant in Mr Algieri!
So, we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk would like to congratulate Micky Algieri on his amazing successes with the Welsh over 70s, but also to say thank you for the Kit Kats at every Bluebirds’ match – and also for being one of the nicest people we know!