Kamara rolls back the years at Welshpool
Monday 30 January 2012
Chris KamaraCHRIS Kamara rolled back the years when he turned out for Welshpool Town in Saturday's Spar Mid Wales League game against Rhayader Town.
The 54-year-old Yorkshireman, who made 642 appearances for a host of clubs, including Swindon Town, Brentford ,Stoke City and Leeds United, made a surprise appearance at Maesydre as an apology for a gaffe by Sky Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling.
But the stunt failed to transform the fortunes of the troubled club who still slumped to a 6-1 defeat, despite having the ex-professional in their ranks.
Stelling had mocked Pool following their 10-1 capitulation to local rivals Waterloo Rovers, but Stelling apologised for his jibes after Welshpool boss David Jones e-mailed the show to explain that the club had been in severe financial difficulties and had nearly collapsed.
To make amends, Stelling pledged to help out by sending one of the many ex-professionals on the show to turn out for the side.
Before the match he had announced his comeback on Twitter, writing: “After 17 years retirement I am back, move over Scholes & Henry. I must be mad.
But despite the heavy defeat, Welshpool manager Jones said he was delighted with the fitness of his newest charge.
"Chris played really well. He’s still very fit for a man of 54," he said. "He gave us a team talk before the game and at half-time and he was talking to the lads throughout the match.
Chris said he enjoyed it, but there are no plans for him to play again for us."
Kamara’s last competitive match had been in 1995 for Bradford City, one of the clubs he subsequently managed before embarking on his career as a roving reporter for Sky Sports.
But at least Kamara’s star quality was able to boost gate receipts with Welshpool reporting a crowd of 500 for the match, 10 times their average this season.
Photo: Kamara in the thick of the action at Maesydre [Phil Blagg].