The 66-year-old fullback is the oldest registered player in the Orange and District Football Association competition for 2021 and says carrying on at his age is all about the love of the game.

"If you don't enjoy it, don't play," he said.

"I never think how old I am, I just go out because I want to play but I know my family probably thinks I'm a bit crazy.

"The reason I still plays is that I value my teammates so much."

But just because he's not thinking of his age when he's out on the park, doesn't mean he's not getting a few odd looks every now and then.

"Each year for the last couple of years the Barnstoneworth teams play against sides from Lindfield in Sydney," he added.

"One time a bloke from Lindfield came up to me - he didn't ask how old I was or anything - he just said to me 'you're going to play, you're going to play the whole match?'

"To which I responded 'yeah, why not'. He probably thought I was just there for a five minute wonder. I didn't think much of it until later and thought it was a bit condescending."

Johnston is playing for Barnies Denley in 4th division this year and got back into the sport when he moved from Dubbo to Millthorpe in 2015 after "donkey's years" away from the game.

He played one year for the Barnies Over 35s team before spending the next three seasons at Millthorpe. It was when the O35s competition was scrapped that he found the Denley team and hasn't looked back since.

A self-confessed "plodder" at the back, Johnston is no slouch on the field though.

"I'm there every week whether it's five minutes or 90 minutes," he said.

"I keep coming back because that's what you sign up for, because I certainly don't sign up for goal scoring.

"I've never scored a goal in my life, because I am a back and I was taught to never go past halfway and so I always stand my ground on the halfway line."

This season was the first in a while where Johnston's playing career was up in the air.

"I was really doubtful about this year to be honest because I put on a bit of weight over Christmas and I couldn't get rid of it," he said.

"I told the team that I didn't want to play if I'm not fit and I finally got down the other week to the weight I wanted. It's the first time weight and fitness has ever been an issue."

He made his season debut on Saturday in a 9-0 victory and after losing in a grand final penalty shootout last year, Johnston is "still chasing the prize."

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