Blueberry way for former Par

Scotland team at Seniors World Cup in Thailand will have a strong Pars influence

Former Pars player Colin O'Brien will represent Scotland at the Seniors World Cup in Thailand next month. 55 year old Colin was signed by Manager Harry Melrose in 1979 from Bristol City and made 47 appearances for the East End Park club before leaving to join East Fife in 1981. Colin is a stalwart of the Pars Former Players Association and is still a regular in the stand.

The Seniors World Cup holders are Iran and previous five winners of the tournament which has been held annually since 2006 include hosts Thailand twice, Australia, Germany and England who shared the spoils with Australia in 2009.

Seventeen countries have already participated and more are expected this year. The Seniors World Cup is a tournament for senior footballers who are 38 years old and above from around the world. The tournament started because of the problems associated with the Tsunami disaster in the south of Thailand.

Now the Thai organisers want to show their country to the world through football and use the sport's appeal like a tool to bring people to Thailand. The 2012 tournament will be centred at Pattaya and squads must comprise of eight players between 38 and 45, eight between 45 and 50 and six over 50.

Scotland at the 2011 tournament

Trials for the Scotland team were held at Toryglen and Colin was delighted to be selected despite training demanding early nights and avoiding alcohol and chocolate, he explained:-

"I went to trials and I am delighted that they saw me as fit enough at my age to compete in that. They want to try and win it! I was thinking to myself, why am I doing this at 55 year old but there are rewards. "

The Pars are represented by former players Paul Donnelly as the assistant manager and Graeme Robertson who is also included in the team. Ex Hearts keeper Henry Smith is expected to keep goal, Cove Rangers Stevie Tosh scrapes in at the minimum age of 38 and also included is fellow Fifer Barry Wilson (40) who made over 250 appearances for Inverness Caley Thistle.

Colin, a right winger who scored six times while at Dunfermline described the Senior World Cup as a 'trip of a lifetime':-

"It is truly an international tournament, we are flying Emirates - corporate all the way there and back. It will be fantastic and all because I kept myself in shape. I kept my diet right, it is sacrificial in a way - my mates are going out having a few beers on a Friday but I am sat at home eating blueberries!"