Age is no barrier for Scotland's David Weir

David Weir must be fed up to the back teeth with his age being paraded in public.

At 40, Weir may no longer be a boy, but we journalists should think twice before starting every interview with a question about the number of years on his birth certificate.

At 50, Merlene Ottey has just competed in the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona.

Her lifetime best, 10.74sec, for the 100 metres, set in Milan 14 years ago, was unlikely to be bettered, but she still has a current best time of 11.67sec.

Stanley Matthews played his final game for Stoke City on 6 February, 1965. He was 50 years and four days old.

I know the game has changed since then, but one thing hasn't altered.

Dedicated top athletes know how to look after their bodies, and Weir is a top athlete.

He knows the value of proper nutrition, rest, and the right kind of training for his body.

Every athlete is different and the bones of some and the legs of others give out at different stages.

Every athlete is different and the bones of some and the legs of others give out at different stages.

But football is littered with examples of top players who've defied the ageing process.

Roger Milla, Franco Baresi and others all played until their so-called advanced years, without suffering seriously diminished performances.

You'll all know someone who played for your own club who falls into that category.

And what Weir brings to the team Scotland can't buy.

The wise head not easily flummoxed in the heat of battle and a sound positional sense to compensate for any diminishing of pace.

The calm authority imparted to the young turks in the dressing room full of bravado, but inside nervously anxious.

Weir is there for a lifetime of accumulated football experience.

Modern scientific research show that age has less of a diminishing impact on performance than once thought, so long as the athlete concerned takes advantage of all available assistance in terms of pre and post match preparation.

The old adage if you're good enough you're old enough is applied to up-and-coming youngsters, but it should also be applied in reverse.

David Weir's qualities as a footballer are there for all to see, and the date on his birth certificate doesn't change that.

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