Doug Truman can't remember a time in his 76 years when he hasn't been playing some form of sport.
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It's been a constant in his life since he started playing hockey with West Tamworth Public School when he was about six.
"I liked it and then my older brother (Ken) started playing with Tamworth High School," Truman recalled.
"They struggled for numbers at times and I used to go with my hockey stick and hopefully they only had 10 and he'd put me out on the right wing."
He was around 12 then.
"It just went from there," he continued.
There has probably only been about one year since when he hasn't played, and that was because he ruptured his achillies.
"They told me not to play again," he said.
But he wasn't having any of that and was back the next year, and now at an age when many others are slowing down Truman is still powering along.
He still suits up for his beloved Tudor Wests in the local third grade competition and was just last week named in the Australian men's over-75s team for what will be his "fifth or sixth" Masters Hockey World Cup.
He was also last month selected in the NSW (O75s) team to play at the masters nationals on the Gold Coast.
All things going well, Doug won't be the only Truman donning the blue with son John making the 50s 1s side. He was selected last year as well but the tournament was cancelled.
"Hopefully this year we'll get to play at the nationals together," Doug said.
It would be pretty special, he acknowledged.
The two have been fortunate to share the hockey pitch together before, for Tudors.
They also played a season of cricket together for West Tamworth after John finished his studies at Sydney Uni.
Doug had given it away due to work commitments but the first game came around and they were short.
"He said 'dad you better come down', and that got me going again," he said.
He played for Wests "for a long time" before moving across to City United, only pulling up stumps on grade cricket this season. He still plays vets for Tamworth.
He has also gone on to represent NSW and Australia, becoming a dual national representative in 2010 when he was selected in the over-65s side to tour England the following year.
Truman acknowledges it's hard to imagine having the experiences and opportunities he has had without sport.
"I've travelled around the world...," he said.
And made many great friends along the way.
As for the World Cup, he said they are always a great experience.
"The standard, even us old fellas is good. People laugh at us old fellas running around but the standard in the World Cup is high," he said.
"And it's very competitive, especially with the English and the Dutch."
The World Cup will be held in Japan and is scheduled for October 19-29.
It will be a busy few weeks with the nationals taking place from September 24-October 8.
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