Former Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland suffered a severe injury during the Wythenshawe Bet Cup final and was treated by paramedics.
Players were seen putting their hands on their heads after Shane Ireland’s severe injury (Image: TikTok)
Premier League icon Stephen Ireland has been hospitalized after sustaining a serious injury during the Veterans Cup final. Ireland, 39, will be selected in a star-studded Wythenshawe Bet team that has taken the Cheshire Bet League and online world by storm with a wealth of former top players.
They played South Liverpool in the Cheshire Cup final at Warrington Rylands on Sunday in the over-35s, but the game was abandoned in the first half after the former Republic of Ireland international suffered a serious injury. Video footage surfaced on social media showing Ireland falling to the ground after being hit with a heavy tackle.
The clip included audio of disturbing cracks and players from both teams were visibly shocked, with some covering their faces with their hands.
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Ireland, who played 176 games for Manchester City, was taken from the non-league ground by an ambulance that came to the pitch. It is understood Ireland have performed as expected, with both clubs and the league deciding on the next steps in the final following their withdrawal.
Ireland and his wife Jess keep the Greater Manchester Club up to date and provide further updates as required. The severity of his injuries is yet to be confirmed, but in a post on social media platform Instagram, the 39-year-old’s shaken wife expressed her gratitude to the emergency services, both clubs and cup final hosts Warrington Rylands.
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Wythenshawe Veterans posted: “Stephen is overwhelmed and incredibly grateful for the support following what happened at today’s Veterans Final.”
“My wife Jess said: ‘I would like to thank everyone who attended today’s match and supported us in any way. It was a truly upsetting and shocking moment, but the compassion and solidarity shown made a huge difference.’
“A big thank you to not only the Wythenshawe FC fans, but also to the South Liverpool veterans and everyone at Warrington Rylands. You all have been fantastic.”
“A special thank you to the paramedics and ambulance team at Warrington Hospital for their prompt and professional treatment.
“In true Stephen spirit, ‘Superman will be back.’ We’re all rooting for you, Stephen. We wish you a full and speedy recovery.”
Footage published on social media showed an ambulance arriving on the pitch after the former Premier League star was injured (Image: TikTok)
Greater Manchester’s Over-35 team, which plays in an overage league known as the ‘Veterans’ or Veterans Competition, has been one of the standout talking points of this season after a number of former Premier League and Football League stars joined Sunday League clubs. Ireland, Papis Cissé, Oumar Niasse, Joleon Lescott, George Boyd and others joined the team and they have been crushing opposing teams.
Newcastle United icon Cissé was said to have scored a hat-trick in the first half of the final before the tragic incident involving Ireland.
They sit at the top of the Cheshire Bet League, unbeaten through their opening 10 league games and boast a six-point advantage and an impressive goal difference of 77 at the top.
They have already clinched the Manchester FA Veterans Cup by defeating East Manchester 9-2 in the final last month, and this season could be a trophy-winning one.
Following their meteoric rise, they received an invitation to play against Conor McGregor’s non-league team in Ireland. They will also travel to the United States at the end of May to compete in the $1 million winner-take-all TST tournament.
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