10 Ex-Football stars you'll find in the Non-Leagues

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October 9, 2024
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10 Ex-Football stars you'll find in the Non-Leagues

We've all had that conversation down the pub. Discussing club legends from generations gone by, with the same “I wonder what happened to them?” question cropping up each time.

Whilst some players slip into punditry, coaching or away from football, a number of players who once turned out in the Premier League are now involved at the proper end of football – Non-League.

Here's a selection of the highest profile examples currently playing, coaching or even owning clubs in Non-League football.

1. Julio Arca

Usually you'll find footballers make their way down the leagues, maybe turning out in League 1 or 2 before finding a new home in the Non-Leagues. For Argentine defender/midfielder Julio Arca, he went from turning out in the Championship to pub side Willow Pond FC.

Arca made his name in the top two divisions of English football by racking up nearly 350 senior appearances for Sunderland and Middlesborough.

julio arca image with stats
Today, you'll find him at Ebac Northern League club South Shields, where he's contributed a healthy 17 goals in 42 appearances.

2. Jonathan Greening

There is a distinctive Manchester United flavour to this rundown of Non-League pros, but this ex-Red Devil is more known for his exploits after he left United.

Midfielder Greening did actually claim his most prestigious prize while at United. After appearing on the bench in their famous 1999 Champion League Final win, Greening qualified for a winner's medal – despite not turning out for a single second of European action that season.

Jonathan greening playing for tadcaster albion
Aside from that, Greening went onto make 387 senior appearances for the likes of Middlesborough, West Brom and Fulham. And he's still marshalling midfields to this day – now turning out for EVO-STIK NPL side Tadcaster Albion.

3, 4, 5, 6 & 7. Class of '92

No mention of Non-League football is complete these days without touching on Salford City's part owners the “Class of '92”.

Despite only taking control of the club in July 2014, Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have taken Salford to a new level both on-and-off the field. After winning back-to-back promotions, Salford are just two steps away from the Football League in the National League North.

statistics of the class of '92
As for the Class of 92, their Premier League pedigree is unmatched pretty much anywhere – including this particular countdown. Those numbers are pretty colossal.

8. Jimmy Bullard

Non-League's most recent recruit is a player that's graced not only the Premier League and international football (sort of), but also the bug-ridden depths of the “I'm a Celebrity Get me out of Here” jungle.

Jimmy Bullard has rarely been far from our screens since he hung up his boots in 2012 – but now he's switching his focus back to football with Pitchero's own Leatherhead FC.


Recently appointed as manager of the Ryman Premier Division side, Bullard is taking the helm for the very first time.

Bullard has almost 350 senior appearances, selection in 4 England squads (although he never made his debut) and the survival of a series of Bushtucker trials to draw upon as he seeks to reverse Leatherhead's disappointing start to the season.

9. Lee Hughes

Striker Lee Hughes has forged a reputation as somewhat of a Football League veteran over the past twenty years, notching up over 300 goals for various clubs up and down the football ladder.

lee hughes image with stats
Amongst his more high profile clubs have been West Bromich Albion, Coventry City (who splashed out £5 million for his services in 2001) and Oldham Athletic.

Despite clocking up 40 on the age clock in May, Hughes is still finding the net with regularity – now at Worester City of the National League. After joining in September 2015, Hughes has notched 23 goals in 36 games, including 10 in 11 appearances so far this season.

10. Danny Webber

We're back with Manchester United – this time with ex-trainee frontman Danny Webber. Despite some impressive performances for United's youth teams, Webber failed to make a Premier League appearance for them and instead made his name first at Watford and later Sheffield United.

danny webber playing for salford city fc
Webber made 39 appearances in four years at Premier League level for Sheffield United and Portsmouth, notching four goals. After more brief stints at the likes of Leeds and Accrington Stanley, the Man U – Salford connection returned as he joined the club in 2014.

Webber's time in Non-League football saw his goal scoring touch return. He played a vital role in Salford's march towards the Football League, notching 38 goals in 56 appearances before announcing his retirement from the game just a couple of months ago.

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