THE end was nigh for Dennis Bushby’s long and often illustrious football career when wife Anita looked out of the kitchen window as she prepared Sunday lunch and saw him hobbling up the driveway.

“For years I’d put ice on my knees to ease the swelling after games,” said Dennis. “And that meant I could keep playing until I was in my mid-60s.

“On the field, I was experienced enough not to have to get involved in too many tackles – which was ironic, because as a young player I was known for my tackling – but physically, as Anita pointed out to me that day, I really couldn’t go on putting myself through that any more.”

Dennis, who lives in Queens Park, Bournemouth, is now 76 … and has two artificial knees.

“We go cruising twice a year, and I always set off the security scanners,” he laughed.

Dennis was born in Wallisdown, on Christmas Day, 1933. His father, Cecil, was chauffeur for a business tycoon, and mother, Ethel, worked for Marks and Spencer in Bournemouth for 25 years.

Older brother Bill, who served in the Far East during the Second World War, worked for Bournemouth Corporation, and as a bricklayer, and was also a useful footballer, with Poppies.

Dennis played for Poppies youth team, after leaving East Howe School (now Kingsleigh) at 15 to train as an electrician, then spent three years in the Army, based in Germany.

When he returned to Bourne-mouth, he started work at the gasworks in Branksome, and played wing-half for the football team.

“I was spotted by Boscombe, and invited to a trial match, but only played for about half-an-hour before they took me off. I was disappointed... until they said not to worry, they’d been impressed, and wanted me to sign.”

Freddie Cox was the manager (“a great bloke, I’d have run through a brick wall for him”), and Dennis joined as an amateur for a season, followed by two more as a professional.

He played in half-a-dozen games in the late 50s, including a couple of big matches in quick succession against Reading over the Christmas period.

“The maximum wage back then was £20 a week, and I was on £12 – but even so, it was good money, really.”

Cox moved on, and was replaced by Don Welsh. Dennis fell out with the new boss, and transferred to Peterborough, spending a season in the Midland League, before returning to Bournemouth because his first wife was homesick.

“I played for Poole Town, in the Southern League. I was player/manager at Parley Sports, and played for Christchurch and Ringwood, where I also went on to become manager.”

Along with his teammates, Dennis would often go to support England, and was in the Wembley crowd for the 1966 World Cup triumph.

Dennis and Anita have been married for 30 years. Anita was previously widowed, and they have three children and five grandchildren between them.

Dennis still goes to the gym at Littledown Centre three times a week, but now the closest he gets to football is when he watches Cherries at Dean Court.

“I had a good run, I suppose,” he smiled. “Until Anita said I looked like Hopalong Cassidy!”