ASCOT United FC official Neal Jeffs is hoping his running exploits will continue to show others that age is no barrier to success.

The 42-year-old, who writes the club’s match reports and edits their match-day programme, has enjoyed something of a purple patch in events this year.

Last May, he won the veteran 40+ category in the Bracknell half marathon with a time of 1hr 20min 01sec before winning a 5k while working for two weeks in New York.

And he even had to make a speech after being presented with his gold medal.

Nearer home, Jeffs finished fourth overall in the Henley half marathon with a time of 1:18:45 in October, which was close to his personal best time.

And last month the father of two daughters ran alone at the front to break three hours in a low-key midweek full marathon in Walton-on-Thames – before going to work in the afternoon.

Jeffs, who works for the Avis Budget Group in Bracknell, said: “I have to work hard to stay in shape, but I also think there is more to come.

“I’m inspired by players such as Barry Hayles who is still knocking the goals in for Windsor at the age 45.

“I remember going with my dad to see him play for Stevenage against Woking when I was a teenager, and that was before I even started running seriously.

“Here he is still going strong and I want to shake his hand next time I see him.

“I read all this stuff about ‘veteran footballers’ at 31 years of age and it makes me laugh. So what? If you’ve still got the desire and appetite for it, and you look after yourself, then it’s just a number.

“Even Jeff Lamb, who is now the joint-manager at Bracknell, was turning out for Ascot United regularly when he was manager here, and I think everyone had lost count of his age, even back then!”