Kevin Ellison is a 39-year-old midfielder on a fourth-tier soccer club in England called Morecambe FC. They're known as the Shrimps.

"I think it's cause it's — it's a seaside resort, obviously, where the football club's based," Kevin says. "Not a stone's throw from the football ground — the soccer ground as youse would say — a stone's throw from there is a beach."

At 39, Kevin Ellison’s a little old for a pro athlete — but he says he still feels fit. He still loves the sport. Life is pretty good.

At least it was. Until Kevin’s 13-year-old son recently brought some unfortunate news to his attention.

Kevin Ellison is a 39-year-old soccer pro. (Courtesy YouTube)

FIFA 19

The first thing you need to know about Kevin’s son is that he — like millions of others around the world — is obsessed with the soccer video game FIFA.

"He doesn't want to go out the house," Kevin says. "Everything's FIFA, FIFA, FIFA. ‘Do you want to come for tea?’ ‘No, can I play FIFA?’ ‘You going to bed?’ ‘No, I'm playing FIFA. One last game.’ "

For the misfortunate few who have never experienced FIFA, a quick primer: in the game, you play as real professional teams and players — controlling their dribbling, passing and shooting on the screen. Most people choose to play with the top clubs in the world — like Barcelona and Real Madrid. But the game also includes lower-tier teams like Kevin Ellison’s Morecambe FC.

In September, on the day the latest edition of the game, FIFA 19, came out, Kevin’s son got a copy.

"Went on it straight away," Kevin says. "And instead of going to the Messis, the Ronaldos, of the world, he’s gone to Kevin Ellison, who’s his dad, and checks my gamer card."

The gamer card lists a player’s stats in the game. It shows how highly the game designers rate them in things like shooting, defending, passing and, most significantly for this story, pace.

"Burst out laughing and said, ‘Dad, at least your pace is good,’ " Kevin says. "And I was like, ‘Why — what’s that, mate?’ "

Kevin had been given a pace rating of 35.