Ex-Arsenal, Leeds, Millwall keeper, 40, comes out of retirement to play for Chesham

An ex-Arsenal, Leeds, Millwall keeper, 40, comes out of retirement to play for Chesham United who won to keep playoff hopes alive.

The former top flight shot stopper Graham Stack was put in goal for SEVENTH TIER side, stepping in for the club’s No1 goalie, who was unavailable to play.

Stack conceded twice, but his team were on form to pick up a 3-2 win against Poole Town, who themselves had been hoping to boost their playoff hopes.

Stack, who is Watford’s Head of Academy Goalkeeping, said on Twitter: “So today I’m coming out of retirement!

“The Chesham GK is unavailable to play so I will be deputising in his absence.

“Should be a lovely day! Up the Generals!”

As of this moment Watford coach Graham Stack is playing for non-league outfit Chesham United!😲#NonLeagueDayhttps://t.co/Y0DIBMW2Jp

— Watford FC News (@MercWatfordFC) March 26, 2022

Today’s lineup for the Generals is

1️⃣ Graham Stack
2️⃣ Alison Ferreira
3️⃣ Lewis Rolfe
5️⃣ Kieran Murphy
6️⃣ Roddy Collins
7️⃣ Brad Clayton
8️⃣ Jordan Gibbons
9️⃣ Francis Jno-Baptiste
1️⃣0️⃣ Jaden Thompson-Brissett
1️⃣1️⃣ Conrad Lucan
1️⃣5️⃣ Mark Kirby (C) pic.twitter.com/sDcxnBIhvo

— Chesham United FC (@cheshamutdfc) March 26, 2022

HOW THE GAME PLAYED OUT

16′ – Even first 15 here, half chances for both sides. Game has come to a stop now with an injury to Will Spetch for Poole

22′ – Great work out on the left from Clayton and Brissett brings about the first save from Childs in the Poole goal

26′ – Baptiste gets across the front post after some great work from Rolfe and his effort somehow doesn’t find the net as he’s crowded out

28′ GOAL CHESHAM – Bradley Clayton. The rarest form of Bradley Clayton goal, a big header. Free kick from the foul on Rolfe goes to Kirby who heads it back across goal and Clayton heads home

30′ – GOAL Poole – No 9 Tony Lee. Brilliant back post header that loops over Stack into the far corner

45′ YELLOW: 14 Sean Wright (Poole). Clayton was breaking past him, and was cynically brought down

46′ – Nearly a goal after 45 seconds of the half. Gibbons flicks it through and the effort from one of our forwards hits the bar and goes clear

69′ – PEN POOLE and a yellow for Stack

70′ – GOAL Tony Lee (Poole). Stack goes the right way but the penalty was hit hard into the corner and beats him for pace

75′ – YELLOW: Mark Kirby (Chesham)

83′ – GOAL MALALCHYYY MCGOVERNNNN. Brilliant move on the counter, Gibbons down the right and he swings a low cross in for Malachy to finish across the keeper (2-2)

90′ – Somehow it stays out, Baptiste down the right. Cross deflects off two defenders and into the keepers hands, not the back of the net

FT @cheshamutdfc 3 @PooleTownFC 2.
90+5 minute goal to win it, drama at the Meadow on @nonleaguedayuk

WHAT A GAME!! @cheshamutdfc get an injury time winner to clinch it 3-2!! #Scenes #NonLeagueDay pic.twitter.com/ydnBhH0uDl

— Stephen ☘️🦁🐝 (@The_United_Lion) March 26, 2022

Graham Stack is a professional football coach and former player, who is currently the head of academy goalkeeping at Watford.

He played as a goalkeeper for Arsenal, Beveren, Millwall, Reading, Leeds, Wolves, Plymouth, Blackpool, Hibernian, Barnet, Kerala Blasters and Eastleigh.

He also played in under-21 internationals for the Republic of Ireland.

Stack joined the Gunners in summer 1998, and signed his first professional contract in July 2000.

The 2002–03 season saw Stack loaned out to Belgian club Beveren, along with three other Arsenal players and in December 2002, Stack came under physical attack during a Beveren match, as hooligans charged at him, as can be seen in the video below.

He punched one of the hooligans in the face, and riot police were quickly on the scene.

His Arsenal debut came in a League Cup match against Rotherham on the 28th of October 2003, a game his team won 9–8 on penalties; Stack scored in the shootout.

He played in all of Arsenal’s five matches in the competition, losing in the semi-finals to Middlesbrough.

Stack was on the bench as Arsenal clinched the 2003–04 FA Premier League title at White Hart Lane on the 25th of April 2004.

Stack was loaned to Millwall for the entirety of the 2004–05 season. On his return, he was loaned to Reading, at the start of the 2005–06 season.

HIS PLAYING CAREER:

Youth career
1998–2000 Arsenal

Senior career
2000–2006 – Arsenal – 5 games
2002–2003 → Beveren (loan) – 24 games
2004–2005 → Millwall (loan) – 26 games
2005–2006 → Reading (loan) – 1 game
2006–2008 – Reading 
2006–2007 → Leeds United (loan) – 12 games
2007–2008 → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) – 2 games
2008–2009 – Plymouth Argyle – 5 games
2008–2009 → Blackpool (loan) 
2009 → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 
2009–2012 – Hibernian – 56 games
2012–2016 – Barnet – 125 games
2016 – Kerala Blasters – 7 games
2022 – Chesham United – 1 game
Total – 315 games

National team
2003 – Republic of Ireland U21 – 7 games

There was reaction as the ex-Arsenal, Leeds, Millwall keeper, 40, comes out of retirement to play for Chesham…

@DavidVick5: As a former Barnet supporter (until 2014) who is now a Chesham fan, what a marvellous surprise seeing you playing for us this afternoon. Your point-blank save at 2-1 kept us in the game. I hope you enjoyed the celebrations after our 95th minute winner! See you next Saturday too?

@DazzMace: Get the ice bath ready . Good luck fella 👍

@Discostuqpr: Good luck mate old safe hands is back

@hayhive: Graham stack stack stack 👀🎶👌🎶🎶🎶 good luck 🐝

@oscarxray: The opposition don’t know what they’re up against. Have a great day ✌️❤️

@kieronjprice76: Go get em Stacky

@Tuathadedanann_: Never reaaallllllly retire 😉 #alwaysready #invincible

@Adrian357Adrian: Well played today Graham.

@tippybush: @AlexHorne get your gloves on ?