Martin Smith column: Fletcher and Ding are showing that sporting thirty-somethings still have plenty in the tank

He’s a man revelling in the golden years of his career.
Two goal Steven Fletcher …….Pic Steve EllisTwo goal Steven Fletcher …….Pic Steve Ellis
Two goal Steven Fletcher …….Pic Steve Ellis

Now nudging 33, Steven Fletcher has always been class act.

But the Owls striker has reached that period of his footballing life where he appears to know exactly what’s going on around him a second or two before anyone else.

Confident, calm and decisive there’s a touch of the Teddy Sheringham’s about him as he controls play through his positioning, and touch.

Ding Junhui during day eleven of the Betway UK Championship at the York Barbican. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday December 7, 2019. See PA story SNOOKER York. Photo credit should read: Zac Goodwin/PA WireDing Junhui during day eleven of the Betway UK Championship at the York Barbican. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday December 7, 2019. See PA story SNOOKER York. Photo credit should read: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire
Ding Junhui during day eleven of the Betway UK Championship at the York Barbican. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday December 7, 2019. See PA story SNOOKER York. Photo credit should read: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire
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OK he’s not the most mobile but it doesn’t really matter when he’s on form, the first yard, as they say, is in his head, make that two yards in his case.

Brains and experience like his are a rare commodity - and he can still find the net regularly as his ten goals this season show.

He reckons he’s looking after himself better than he used to.

Only he will know what that really means but whatever he’s doing it’s working - though his response to Charlton 'keeper Dillon Phillips’ screaming: ’You’re gonna miss’ as Fletcher stepped up to take the penalty in the Owls 3-1 win at The Valley might have got him into bother.

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But you couldn’t blame the Owls number nine for having a go back.

Fletcher in this form is one half of a promotion-hunting strike partnership.

Is Atdhe Nuhiu the other?

*Sheffield may have a new world champion when spring rolls around.

The season of rebirth may seem a long way from the depths of December but the snooker world championships, that harbinger of light and warmth, will be upon us soon enough.

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Adopted Sheffielder Ding Junhui lives in the city, practices at the EIS, is a patron of Sheffield United and took the British championship for the third time this weekend by beating Stephen Maguire 10-6 in the final in York.

Ding appears to have rejuvenated his career - he’ll be 33 in April when the Crucible audience next hears a competitive click - and will be aiming for his first World final since 2016 when he lost 14–18 to Mark Selby.

Six-time world champion Steve Davis said: "A lot of people had written Ding off for the World Championship but that has been blown right open now.

"I think Ding on his best form is a match for anybody in the world.”

Congratulations and good luck to him - Sheffield can never have too many world champions.