HE’S been carried on the shoulders of his Wallie’s comrades, he sports a six pack that raises gasps from the ladies and he drinks a pre-match Jack Daniels and Coke to fire up his football spirit - his name is Horst Dillon and at age 74, is he Australia’s oldest football player?

The beginning of this beautiful story for the beautiful game is set 30 years ago when Horst, the spirited Everton and Gold Coast United supporter, left his home in Germany and moved to Australia where he found and seized his late calling in football.

At the remarkable age of 47 years young, former aircraft engineer Dillon debuted on the right of midfield and his talent was quickly snapped up by the Gold Coast over 45s team, The Wallies.

With a vibrant football career of 27 years now under his boots he’s doing better than many professionals, an irony that was deservedly recognised at the first Gold Coast United home game this season.

As he stood on the pitch during the half-time break, Horst was overwhelmed and humbled as Miron Bleiberg shook his hand and presented him with a personalised blue and gold jersey.

The beauty of Horst’s story lies in his modesty. As he was led onto the pitch, unaware of the recognition and award awaiting him, Horst could not understand the reason for the fuss. To him, playing football at the age of 74 is just a weekly runaround to be enjoyed with his mates.

Indeed the spirit of such friendship is what The Wallies encompass. The red and white team has been smitten with Dillon’s fiery football flair and charismatic charm since the early nineties. Both on and off the field their mateship runs deep.

Fellow Wallies player, Peter Nicholson, said Dillon’s teammates call him ‘the charming little rascal’ and in response to his regular ‘no, no, no, I don’t know about that’ they egg him on to greater heights and more enduring memories.

Nicholson recalls the spry 74-year-old’s one and only goal on the football pitch that took place 4 years ago as the Wallies took on rivals Gold Coast Lions. The score was 4-0 with the Wallies losing hope, but in the in the final moments a penalty was awarded.

“We all urged Horst to take it but in his usual manner he said ‘no, no I don’t know about that’. But he stood up, he kicked the ball and… he missed, it went wide,” said Nicholson, his voice conveying the anticipation - the tension.

The referee’s whistle blew and goose pimples rose on everyone around the sidelines. The goalkeeper moved too early so the referee ordered a re-take. Horst’s big moment was not over yet.

“Horst is not a very big guy but I’ve never seen a chap hit a ball so hard in my life.

“Top corner - nearly broke the net!”

The 21 players on the pitch cheered in delight, the two rival teams united to carry the oldest, now goalscoring, football player in Australia off the pitch on their shoulders.

Nicholson retold the story with a warm mixture of respect and endearment, the true character and humility of Horst seems to have inspired his teammates and embodies the spirit of The Wallies.

The zealous Horst is up for anything; cycling, marathon running, gardening or hiking – he even scaled Kilimanjaro in 1978 - but his wife Carol affectionately claims the highlight of his week is football with the boys (although the presence of a beer on the sidelines could be a motivator).

Such an extraordinary level of activity for a man over 70 has left his teammates gasping in wonderment, but they are not the only ones wide-eyed.

At one of the annual end of season awards nights Horst was presented with a team jersey complete with his name and age displayed on the back. Eager to try on his symbolic trophy, Horst stripped to the waist.

As his shirt was whipped off the ladies in the audience gasped in appreciation. Nicholson recalls the reaction.

“Ohhhh a six pack, cried the ladies, he really does keep in good shape, all the girls loved it,” he laughed.

Hopefully these vivacious genes will run in the family as Horst’s 11-week-old granddaughter attended her first football match as United drew with Wellington in the inaugural game of the season.

Perhaps that day the Gold Coast was honoured to be the home ground for not only the oldest player in Australia, but also the youngest fan.

Horst speaks about the Wallies and football with sincerity and fondness. When the guys in red and white get together their passion for the code and long-standing friendships create a unique, infectious atmosphere.

“It’s great comradery, we never blame each other,” Horst says.

“If we win a game it’s good and if we lose it’s the same; we talk about it, we have a beer and everything is okay,” he added.

Sporting a mixture of humility, a zest for life and a love of the game at an age that is surely a national record-breaker, Horst Dillon, who threatens to retire at the end of every season, will hopefully dance in his football boots for a long time to come.

His amazing story, in his own words, can be seen in Fox Sports’ pre-game show prior to Friday night’s clash with Melbourne Heart.