Bedworth's former Sky Blues man Christie wants to play on

[FF News]

Former Coventry City striker Iyseden Christie is still causing problems for opposition defences – at the age of 40. The ex-Sky Blues frontman isn't planning on hanging up his boots any time soon.

The veteran striker started his career as an apprentice with the Sky Blues in 1995 and logged one Premier Division appearance, as a substitute in a 5-1 defeat at Blackburn, before moving on to enjoy a productive league career with the likes of Leyton Orient, Mansfield Town and Rochdale.

Christie has played for a total of 18 clubs, including brief spells with Nuneaton Town and Coventry Sphinx.

Having decided to stay on at Evo-Stik First Division South outfit Bedworth for another season, Christie has already been among the goals and remains firmly a part of manager Stuart Storer's plans, reports the Nuneaton News.

The decision to pull on the green shirt of Bedworth for the 2017/18 campaign wasn't something Christie pondered on too long during the off-season.

He said: "It's not really something you think about over the summer, it's when you get back to pre-season training and you have to put all the running in to get yourself in condition for the season.

"Then you've got to have your mind on it and want to play. And for me that's what it's about, I want to play football and while the body holds up and can go through a pre-season and play regularly, I'll keep on playing.

"It does take its toll more as you get older, that's undeniable, but you're also more experienced and nobody knows your body better than you do. The manager (Storer) is really good and when I say I need to sit a training session out he lets me, but also he keeps me from me, what I mean is if he feels I should take a break and I don't he will let me know.

"He played into his 40s too so he knows how difficult it is. I've been doing this now since I was 16 and I know what I've got to do to stay involved in the game."

Christie has become a more-than useful asset for Storer at Bedworth United, who pride themselves on a fine youth system which is going from strength to strength thanks to the club's superb 4G playing and training facilities.

Far from being a fringe player, the experienced campaigner is a frequent starter for the Greenbacks and as long as appearances keep on tallying up – he will want to keep committing to football.

"As long as though I play 20 to 30 games a season and I am wanted, that I am of some use, I will keep on wanting to play football," said the Holbrooks resident.

"And when I look at my record over the past couple of seasons, probably since I was at Halesowen (2013), that's the attitude I've had.

"If the amount of games I have drops below that then maybe I would think about retirement."

Read more at:
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net

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