Peter Reid: Former Sunderland Boss Makes Sensational Return To Football
Peter Reid has agreed a deal to return to football in a playing capacity by joining Sunday league club FC Easington. The ex-Sunderland manager and England player has signed on until the end of the season, which will see him in his first playing role since leaving Bury in 1995. Fifty-six year old Reid, had been attending the Sunderland v Arsenal game on Saturday afternoon and after watching the team he managed for 7 years, he got talking to FC Easington player Christopher Ber at a local hotel, where Ber, 21, joked he should come and sign for the amateur team on Sunday morning.
To everyone's surprise, Reid kept to his word and turned up the next morning to watch FC Easington play Old Shotton Royal George in the Peterlee and District Sunday League.
FC Easington manager Martin Dunn, pictured above with Reid, spoke to WhatCulture:"We're absolutely delighted Peter has agreed to sign for us. He turned up this morning in the dressing room and pulled on the red and black (FC Easington colours) and wanted to sign for us. "It is unbelievable to have a former England player coming to the Peterlee and Sunday League. Hopefully this can really raise the profile of everyone involved."Reid, who has won 13 caps for England - including the infamous appearance in the 1986 World Cup against Argentina, where the 'Hand of God' and the 'Greatest Goal Of The Century' were written into footballing folklore by Diego Maradona. FC Easington currently lie 5th in the PDSL Division 1, after only being formed in 2011. Adam Brown, 20, plays central midfield for Easington and he said: "You couldn't make it up. We've got a player that has played with some of the best players ever to be on a pitch and it was just great having him around - it gave everyone a real lift. He was more than happy to take photo's with players and supporters alike and I'm looking forward to him hopefully having a few run outs with us."
