We catch up with Manchester United’s 2003 FA Youth Cup winning side.
In 2003, Manchester United’s under-18s side overcame Middlesbrough to win the FA Youth Cup final 3-1 on aggregate.
Are you ready to feel old? Let’s catch up with some of the players from that side:
Paul McShane and David Jones are hoping to line up against United next season as they bid to win promotion to the Premier League.
Republic of Ireland defender McShane captains a Reading side managed by United favourite Jaap Stam. McShane has featured 29 times for the play-off pushing Royals.
Jones is aiming to win his second promotion in two seasons. The midfielder was part of Sean Dyche’s 2015/6 Championship winning Burnley squad and he is now looking to help Sheffield Wednesday return to the top flight.
Jones played alongside goalkeeper Tom Heaton last season. The 30-year-old has been in fine form for the Burnley this campaign, helping his side keep a clean-sheet at Old Trafford back in October.
Heaton is joined the Premier League by former United teammate Phil Bardsley. The right-back has spent the last three years with Stoke City.
Chris Eagles and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake are battling for survival at the bottom end of League One.
Eagles joined Port Vale in January after stints at Accrington Stanley, Bury and Charlton Athletic. He has bagged three goals for the Shakers, who sit just above the drop zone.
Ebanks-Blake’s Chesterfield side need something special to avoid relegation to League Two. The forward, who spent the first half of the season on-loan at Shrewsbury Town, scored in the recent games against Peterborough United and Bristol Rovers.
One member of this FA Youth Cup side to be playing their football abroad is Luke Steele. The former West Bromwich Albion and Barnsley stopper turns out for Greek SuperLeague club Panathinaikos. Steele, 32, lost his starting role following the Greens’ 3-0 defeat to Olympiacos back in November.
Eddie Johnson is among those who have hung up their playing boots. The attacker was forced to retire in 2012 after suffering three head injuries while playing for MLS side Portland Timbers. He subsequently spent two years as Dundee’s under-20s manager.
Likewise, Mark Howard and Mads Timm have stayed in the game after calling time on their careers. Howard played for United Soccer League side Oklahoma City Energy before transitioning into an assistant coach role in 2015.
Danish forward Timm released an autobiography titled ‘Red Devil’ last year , which included stories about Sir Alex Ferguson’s infamous ‘hairdryer treatment’. According to an interview with Berlingske, Timm coaches the Odense under-15 team and works part-time as a family consultant.
Ben Collett and Ramon Calliste both had their promising futures in the game prematurely ended by injuries.
Calliste was released by United in 2005 and went on to have a short spell under Rafa Benitez at Liverpool. A year later, the Welshman suffered a horrific injury playing for Scunthorpe United which effectively ended his professional career.
He now runs a successful luxury watch company called ‘Global Watches’.
Collet was awarded £4.3million in compensation after a horror tackle from Middlesbrough player Gary Smith during a reserve game ended his career at just 18 years old.
Meanwhile, Keiran Richardson is looking for a new club following his release from Cardiff City in January.
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