At the age of 45, David Carmichael is still playing football and winning trophies in a national league as part of army units which have now moved into Leuchars.
“I was born and bred in Dundee, firstly in Kirkton, then Whitfield,” he opened.
“I joined up when I was 18 and played football in the army, that is when I got the hunger for it.
“I came out of the army and came back home after three years and played for two Dundee teams.
“One was a Saturday amateur team called Kingsway Athletic, under Steve Kell. On a Sunday, I also turned out for the DDC team in the morning from 1992 onwards. Maurice Kidd was manager.
“They were both successful in the Tayside area around that time.
“I also joined the territorial army unit in Dundee the old Royal Engineers unit, which are now disbanded.
“The name is carried on at Leuchsrs, where I’m based now, joining them earlier this year.”
The full name of David’s unit is 71 Royal Engineers Regiment and he passed a trial to play for their football team at left-back, enjoying success against the Scottish Transport Regiment, Scottish Infantry Battalion, British Army Reserves, Irish 156 Transport Regiment and 81 Royal Signals.
David’s side reached the final, which was played at the British Army Military Stadium in Aldershot, where he had done his basic military training back in 1988.
“The final was against the Yorkshire Oct,” continued David, a lance-corporal.
“And we beat them after extra time to win the British Army Reserve Cup 2014.
“We have been entered in the British Army Tri-Services Cup starting on January 13 against 45 Royal Marines at Condor. Then we play the British army champions 22 Royal Signals on January 23 for the British Army Super Cup.
“There are two other local lads in the team. Brandon Henderson, who plays centre-half, is at Dundee University and comes from Leuchars. David Wright, who plays on the right-wing, hails from Dryburgh.
“I come from a family of footballers. My father David played in goal for Westgrove Albion in the 1960s and my cousin Peter Clark played for them, too. Dad also played for Auchterhouse and Riverside in the 1970s and 80s.
“He was brought up in Bernard Street in Hawkhill.
“Sadly, he passed away in 2001.”
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