After 56 years, local Hamilton touch football player still on the field

A local 76-year-old Hamilton man says age has no limit, as he still manages to lace up and enjoy his favourite pastime: touch football.

Ken Curtis helped found the Hamilton Touch Football Association 56 years ago, but he remains humble.

“I’m just a normal joe who likes to play football,” said Curtis.

But ask anyone who plays touch football in Hamilton and the man is a bit of a legend.

“If it wasn’t for Ken, we wouldn’t have a league, y’know what I mean?” said Randy Turcotte with the Hamilton Touch Football Association.

“Kenny has been a part of it since the beginning — he’s the last original from 1969.”

That was 56 years ago, and he’s still playing today at the age of 76.

“I’ve had seven knee operations, and only one was football,” said Curtis.

Curtis says he’s done it all, from playing to coaching, and when asked how many kids he’s coached over the years, he said, “too many, too many.”

“To even take a guess…but! I get called ‘dad’, ‘grandpa’, so you can imagine how many people I know,” said Curtis.

For Curtis, at the end of the day, it’s the camaraderie that keeps him coming back.

Years of teaching the next generation, spending time on the field, and enjoying the sport have been what kept him going all these years.

When asked for one of his most cherished memories, he said, “I’m gonna say the 2003 championship, with all the Delta kids, and it was a fantastic year for me.”

“It’s a good time, it’s just a good time for everybody and I don’t think he wants that to end anytime soon,” said Turcotte.

Anyone interested to see Curtis in action, or to get involved in the local touch football league can check their website at hamiltontouchcootball.ca

“Do I think this is our last year? I don’t know, hopefully not, but one never knows,” said Curtis.

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