CHARLIE MULGREW has come OUT of retirement – to play for a club in English football’s 11TH TIER.
The former Aberdeen, Celtic and Dundee United star announced he was quitting football with an emotional message back in September of last year.
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Mulgrew, who won 44 caps for Scotland and earned cult hero status at Blackburn Rovers, will turn 38 next month but has decided on a shock return to football down in the lower echelons of the English football pyramid.
Doncaster City FC was founded just two years ago, and already have a Scottish connection.
That’s because they were formed by Monaco-based football agent Willie McKay.
His client list over the years has included notable names with links to the Old Firm such as Joey Barton, Scott McDonald, Henri Camara and Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe.
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They made headlines when they contacted the SFA about entering the Scottish Cup as an English club, arguing that arguing that Doncaster was a part of Scotland thanks to the Treaty of Durham, which was never officially withdrawn.
Based at the Welfare Ground in Armthorpe as part of a ground-sharing agreement with Armthorpe Welfare, the club currently plays in the Central Midlands League North Division and the team is managed by Dave Twigg.
Mulgrew will join them for a short but unspecified period, the club announced on social media.
A post read: “Welcome to Doncaster City FC Charlie Mulgrew.
“The former Celtic and Scotland international will be with us for a short period to gain valuable fitness.”
And Mulgrew will be joined by former Scotland team mate Ross McCormack.
The 37-year-old was last on the books at Liversedge of the eighth tier in England, which came after a short spell with Aldershot Town.
McCormack started his career and Rangers but couldn’t crack the first team and moved to Motherwell in 2006 where his career began to take off.
He would move from Fir Park to Cardiff in the Championship and subsequently established himself as one of the best striker at that level, becoming a cult hero at Leeds United and Fulham after leaving the Welsh capital.
His £12m transfer to Aston Villa in 2017 didn’t work out and he left the club in 2019 after a series of loan spells.
He too will now join the sky blue side for an indeterminate period.
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As they announced McCormack, Doncaster City wrote on Twitter (X): “Welcome to Doncaster City FC Ross McCormack.
“The former Fulham, Aston Villa, Leeds and Scotland International will be with us for a short period.”
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