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REVEALED: John O’Shea and Joleon Lescott are among a group of former Premier League stars taking part in regular kicks, with Stephen Ireland in charge of ADMINISTRATION… as Danny Simpson explains ‘you get kicked out if I haven’t paid the Losers’ share!
- Several former Premier League stars have been taking part in kick-abouts
- Former Man City midfielder Stephen Ireland is in charge of the organization
- Regular games are held at ‘undisclosed locations’ in Cheshire
Former Leicester City star Danny Simpson has revealed how he engages in a regular feud with other former Premier League footballers.
Simpson, who came through the youth system at Manchester United before playing for Newcastle, Leicester and QPR in the top flight, is currently a free agent after leaving Bristol City at the end of last season.
The 36-year-old man said The Telegraph how he is part of a ‘secret’ WhatsApp group run by former Man City star Stephen Ireland and the former players take part in highly competitive soccer games at undisclosed locations in Cheshire.
Referees are hired and the winners of the games get the bragging rights.
Simpson revealed how Ireland, which has been without a club since 2018 after playing for Man City, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Stoke and Bolton Wanderers during his career, organizes the matches.
Danny Simpson revealed that he participates in kicks with former Premier League footballers
Taking part are former Man City and Man United defenders Joleon Lescott (L) and John O’Shea (R)
He also revealed how the likes of himself, Ireland, Joleon Lescott, Nedum Onuoha, Danny Drinkwater, John O’Shea and Ravel Morrison participate in the games between the former pros.
However, he noted that there is a key rule for those who are part of the group, and ex-pros must pay a losers fee if they are beaten on kicks or they will be kicked out of the group by Ireland.
Simpson explained how he was really enjoying the regular games after having struggled to no longer be part of a professional team.
He said: ‘People realized you weren’t playing, and I think if you don’t have a contract someone will end up trying to recruit you. You do get kicked out though if you haven’t paid the loser fee!
I miss being around the boys every day. I haven’t been quiet about it. I miss going out on a Saturday, but most of all… well, if you’ve got like 20 guys every day for 20 years, that’s hard to replace.
Stephen Ireland is in charge of the administration of the organization of the games in ‘undisclosed locations’
Simpson (R), who won the Premier League with Leicester, is looking forward to returning to the professional game.
“It’s one thing to be fit in terms of running on the treadmill, frame-to-frame sprints, but then there’s being fit for football.”
The Premier League title winner also spoke about how, while many of the others in the group simply play to keep fit, he still harbors aspirations of returning to the professional game.
He said: ‘I’m not retired. If someone needs a right back, I have to be ready. Maybe that’s my last hurrah.