Local football fans of a non-league club were left stunned when a former Manchester United[1] stepped out for a rare appearance four years after retiring from the professional ranks.
Ninth-tier Wythenshawe FC shared a video of their team emerging from the changing rooms for their North West Counties League clash with AFC Liverpool[2] over the weekend, asking fans if they could spot their ‘new ex-Premier League signing’.
As the players walked out onto the pitch it became clear just who the club’s new signing was – none other than ex-United midfielder Darren Gibson.
The video has now racked up more than 700,000 views on social media platform TikTok[3].
Gibson, 37, made 31 appearances for the Red Devils, in which time he lifted the Premier League[4] title (2010-11) and the League Cup[5] on two occasions.
After stints at Everton[6], Sunderland[7] and Wigan, the Ireland international finished his career at Salford City in 2021.
Former Man United star Darren Gibson made a surprise appearance at a non-league game
Gibson, a youth academy product from United, won a handful of titles while at Old Trafford
Gibson proved he’s still got it, playing over half the match as Wythenshawe ran out 3-1 winners.
The non-league club are fourth in their league, having made a strong start to the season, and sit three points off top spot with 28 points from 13 games.
The 37-year-old’s return to the pitch comes after he candidly revealed his battle with addiction to sleeping pills.
The former midfielder said his addiction began in 2013 following a serious knee injury, which had triggered a bout of insomnia. He then became dependent on the pills, made worse by alcohol abuse.
That led to a near-fatal seizure three years ago, having taken 18 sleeping tablets – with his wife Danielle fearing he had died.
Gibson’s shocking episode – and an ultimatum from his wife – triggered him to seek out professional help and turn his life around.
‘He had gone so stiff and the sweat was dripping from him and he was biting chunks out of his tongue,’ Danielle told The Sunday Times.
‘I was trying to stop him doing that, but I couldn’t lift him.
‘His body was so wet and his eyes were like a roulette machine, they were whirring around so fast.
Gibson recently disclosed his battle with addiction dating back to a serious knee injury
‘It lasted about three minutes and then there was a stillness.
‘His lips turned blue and I thought he had died.’
Reflecting on his time in hospital, Gibson said: ‘They were doing brain scans and epilepsy scans.
‘I knew deep down what happened but I was too embarrassed to tell them.
‘Finally I said, “Listen, it’s not that.” I had taken 12 sleeping tablets the night before and about six more before I sat down to watch the match.
‘If you have got the money and the connections you can get whatever [medication] you want.’
References
- ^ Manchester United (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Liverpool (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ TikTok (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Premier League (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ League Cup (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Everton (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Sunderland (www.dailymail.co.uk)