Captain proud to lead veterans to World Cup final

Geoff Martel said the tournament had been a "totally different" experience

England's over-75s captain said he could not have asked for more from his team after they finished as Veterans World Cup runners-up.

Geoff Martel, from Guernsey, led the squad to wins against Japan, Taiwan, USA and Wales as they reached the final against Germany at the cup in Tokyo.

After losing the final 3-0, Martel said the German team had "punished us".

Reflecting on the tournament, he said it had been "totally different" and something he had never experienced.

Martel said he had also been asked to manage the team and sort logistical matters for the tournament, which England entered as reigning champions after beating Wales in a penalty shoot-out in 2024.

"I did everything from designing our kit to sorting out everybody's accommodation," he said.

"It was mind-boggling to do that in a foreign country."