Mrs Jones, 70, may not be able to play up front any more because she's "lost a bit of pace" but reckons she's still as competitive as the next player. She fell in love with the sport the day she picked up a hockey stick at Longlevens Primary School. And in the 59 years since, she's played 1,650 games. The only time she stood on the sidelines was when she was pregnant.

Now she's been crowned the world's oldest player by the Guinness Book of Records.

Julie, who grew up in Longlevens, still turns out every week for a team in Yeovil, Dorset and trains every Thursday. She was captain of Gloucester's Ribston Hall School team, then went on to captain the county. Julie did much of her hockey training in Cheltenham while at St Mary's Teacher's Training College. The retired deputy headteacher regularly played at Cheltenham Ladies' College's ground during her studies. She wrote to Guinness after her grandson Gareth suggested it and was shocked when they sent her a certificate.

Julie said: "I'm thrilled to be a world record holder and it's something that's going to really impress my grandchildren. "I want to keep on playing and will play next year but I can't go on for ever. I've been very lucky with my health to play as long as I have. "I've played all positions except goalie but as I've slowed down over the years and now I'm in midfield.

"The secret to playing so long is just to keep playing. I wouldn't have been able to start again if I'd stopped. The game has changed enormously since I started but I've managed to adapt. Out of all the changes I do miss the bullying - that was a skill I enjoyed."

Julie met her husband David, 74, in Cheltenham while they were both training to be teachers. They married in 1955. Julie said: "I can remember playing in Cheltenham well. The county played some of their games in Charlton Kings and it was always very competitive."

Jane Nockolds, of England Hockey, said Julie was an inspiration to others playing the game. She said: "It's fantastic. We're actively trying to sustain people into the game longer and she's a shining example of that."

Since Julie began her career the sport has changed enormously.

All games are now played on artificial pitches, not grass, and bullying was banned.