BRANSFORD’S seniors marked a special occasion for a team-mate on his 90th birthday.

Stan Parnell, of Malvern, went out last in the section’s monthly stableford competition accompanied by his three sons — Frank, 62, Keith, 59, and Clive, 57.

He returned to the 18th green where a sizeable group gathered to applaud him back into the clubhouse for celebratory champagne.

Parnell, who is the club’s oldest player, returned a respectable 29 points off his 27 handicap and insisted he has no thoughts about giving up the sport.

“I did play a few times with a friend at Penn when I was about nine but little after that,” recalled the Wolverhampton native.

“I did have an occasional game but, what with work and being married with a family, I rarely played again until I was 72.”

Parnell joined the fledgling Bransford club in late 1993 and was out on the course in the summer to practice at as early as 4am.

He added: “When I felt I was ready I linked up with the seniors section and have enjoyed my golf ever since.

“I did get my handicap down to 18 but I’ve now almost crept back up to my original 28.

“I still thoroughly enjoy playing, as well as the friendship of the section, and intend to carry on for as many years as possible.”

A lifelong supporter of Wolverhampton Wanderers, his father was club treasurer at Molineux during the 1930s and one of his presents was a specially inscribed copy of the history of the football club.

Parnell also received a club sweater, bearing the embroidered inscription ‘Stan Parnell — Founder member of Over 90s section.