Pro Touch Vets celebrate their 1-0 victory over Shadwell Vets at Mile End Stadium. Photo: Sporting Foundation/AZ Images

IT was a fairytale cup final that had a little bit of everything: a player coming off the substitutes’ bench to haunt his old club, a dramatic late penalty save and the underdogs returning home with the winners’ trophy.

Pro Touch launched their new veterans football team just a couple of months ago to give past-masters from Camden, Islington and Westminster – albeit some of them only 35 years old – a chance to return to the pitch and showcase their skills.

And the newly-formed squad didn’t need long to prove they’ve still got what it takes to scoop silverware after winning the Sporting Foundation Summer League Cup.

Pro Touch founder Ash Rahman fittingly scored the only goal of the game to earn his side a 1-0 victory over Shadwell Vets at Mile End Stadium earlier this month. The winger entered the action in the second half, and soon made his mark as he curled a 25-yard free-kick into the bottom corner.

“On paper we shouldn’t have won, the result was really against all odds,” said the match-winner, who lives in King’s Cross.

“We had finished bottom of the league, albeit we had to forfeit two of our six games due to not having enough players on the day.

“And Shadwell Vets have a long history of winning this competition, and would have been favourites to do so again. But the Pro Touch players produced the perfect game.”

Ash Rahman

While the trophy triumph is Pro Touch Vets’ first, it was nothing new to Ash. This time last year he was ­celebrating winning the League Cup for Shadwell Vets after coming off the bench to put in a man-of-the-match performance against Shoreditch Vets by netting two goals in a 4-3 victory.

Ash added: “I have to be honest, it does make scoring the winner a little sweeter – getting one over all my old teammates. There has been a lot of banter.

“But I wasn’t the man of the match this time, that honour went to our goalkeeper Noor Uddin who produced a fantastic penalty save late on to ensure Pro Touch were victorious.”

Next up Pro Touch will be looking to continue their winning run in Westminster when they take part in the Lord Mayor’s Cup, which is being held at Paddington Recreational Ground in Maida Vale on November 17.

Looking to boost his numbers ahead of the seven-a-side tournament, Ash said: “A few of us played for other clubs last season, but we launched a Pro Touch Vets team because we had a core of players from Camden, Westminster and Islington who wanted to play and train a little closer to home.

“The response has been good, and we’re building a very talented squad. But as I mentioned previously, last season we had to forfeit a couple of games because we didn’t have enough players, and if we’re going to build on our early success that can’t keep happening. So any players interested, get in touch.”

Pro Touch are searching for players aged 35 and over. Call Ash on 07732 872 022 for ­further details.