DAVID JAMES came out of retirement after more than a decade to score a winning goal for a Sunday League team.
The former Premier League star and England international turned out for AFC Hutwood in a one-off appearance to help with their title chase.
James, 53, made 572 appearances in England’s top flight during his career.
He was back in goal for the first half of the City of Southampton Sunday FL Division One match.
However in the second half, James was swapped to be an outfielder.
It could have reminded James of the time that former Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce played him as a striker in 2005 vs Middlesborough.
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James made an impact as he smashed home the winning goal in the game from a 25-yard free-kick.
The ex-Liverpool and West Ham star hit his effort against the post, and it went in via a defection of the goalkeeper.
Speaking after the game, James told BBC Radio Solent: “I kept asking the manager to take me off.
“Fortunately, he didn’t as we got a free-kick, which I smashed goalbound.
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“It hit the post, then hit the goalkeeper and went in.”
James never scored a goal during the entirety of his professional career, which lasted over 25 years.
James was invited to play in the match on social media, and with his role as an ambassador for energy company Utilita’s Football Rebooted initiative, he was more than happy to get involved.
The campaign aims to provide football boots for people who cannot afford them.
James added: “The idea of the campaign is to keep boots in the community.
“We want people to have them that want to take part in football but maybe can’t afford them.
“The aim is for anyone to be able to play, not matter who you are.”
James will be back in action on June 9 as he will play in Soccer Aid for Unicef.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
