Legendary former Glentoran striker Michael Halliday is threatening to become the Peter Pan of Irish League football after agreeing a new contract with Premier Intermediate club Bangor.
Halliday, who turned 43 last month and is preparing for his 24th season in the Irish League, is one of the oldest players to grace the domestic game here.
The veteran, who won three league titles and two Irish Cups with the Glens and also played for Crusaders and Lisburn Distillery, is an inspiration to younger players.
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He also inspired Belfast Live's sports department to compile a list of the oldest players to star in the Danske Bank Premiership last season.
So without further ago, here are the top 13 veterans, in order of age, who played at least one league game for their respective top-flight clubs last season.
If we have missed anyone, let us know in the comments section below…
1 - EOIN BRADLEY (Coleraine)
BIRTHDATE: December 30, 1983
CURRENT AGE: 38
Coleraine striker, who said in the past that his aim is to still be playing at 40, made 29 league appearances for the Bannsiders last season, 18 of them off the bench.
2 - SEAN WARD (Glenavon)
BIRTHDATE: January 12, 1984
CURRENT AGE: 38
Former Linfield, Crusaders and Glentoran defender played in 31 of Glenavon’s 38 Danske Bank Premiership fixtures last season. A remarkable athlete for his age.
3 - JAMES TAYLOR (Glenavon)
BIRTHDATE: May 12, 1984
CURRENT AGE: 38
Former Glentoran and Carrick Rangers goalkeeper made 26 appearances for the Lurgan Blues last season before moving on to his hometown club Bangor in June.
4 - DWAYNE NELSON (Dungannon Swifts)
BIRTHDATE: September 5, 1984
CURRENT AGE: 37
Experienced goalkeeper, who also played for Ballymena United and Glentoran, initially joins Dungannon Swifts as a coach, but went on to make 12 league appearances for the club last season.
5 - JEFF HUGHES (Larne)
BIRTHDATE: May 29, 1985
CURRENT AGE: 37
Larne skipper and cultured midfielder missed almost three months of the season through injury but still featured in 19 league games for the Inver Park club. He turned 37 last month.
6 - JIM ERVIN (Carrick Rangers)
BIRTHDATE: June 5, 1985
CURRENT AGE: 37
Tenacious title-winning Linfield defender joined Carrick Rangers from Ballymena United last summer and featured in 29 of the club’s Danske Bank Premiership games. Turned 37 earlier this month.
7 - ANDY COLEMAN (Warrenpoint Town)
BIRTHDATE: June 13, 1985
CURRENT AGE: 37
Far-travelled goalkeeper, who also played for the likes of Newry City and Glenavon, retired at the end of the season after making a number of appearances for Warrenpoint Town.
8 - ALBERT WATSON (Larne)
BIRTHDATE: September 8, 1985
CURRENT AGE: 36
No-nonsense centre back, who joined Larne in 2019, featured in 24 Danske Bank Premiership games for Tiernan Lynch’s men last season.
9 - COLIN COATES (Cliftonville)
BIRTHDATE: October 26, 1985
CURRENT AGE: 36
Former Crusaders defender joined Cliftonville last summer and proved a steadying influence for the league runners-up in the title run-in at the end of the season.
10 - GAVIN PEERS (Warrenpoint Town)
BIRTHDATE: November 10, 1985
CURRENT AGE: 36
Former Sligo Rovers and Glentoran defender featured for relegated Warrenpoint Town last season before confirming his retirement in May.
11 - MARK SURGENOR (Carrick Rangers)
BIRTHDATE: December 19, 1985
CURRENT AGE: 36
Seasoned centre-back was virtually an ever-present for Stuart King’s Carrick Rangers last season, featuring in 34 of the club’s 38 league games.
12 - ANDY WATERWORTH (Glenavon)
BIRTHDATE: April 11, 1986
CURRENT AGE: 36
Former Linfield striker, who joined Glenavon from the Blues last summer, scored three goals in 26 league outings for Gary Hamilton’s men last season.
13 - JAMIE MULGREW (Linfield)
BIRTHDATE: June 5, 1986
CURRENT AGE: 36
Influential Linfield captain played 27 league games for David Healy’s men last season and went on to win his 10th league title with the Windsor Park club.
FOOTNOTE 1: The likes of Glenavon boss Gary Hamilton (41) and Glentoran's Elliott Morris (41) were named on their respective squad lists but didn't feature in any league games last season.
FOOTNOTE 2: We compiled our list from players aged 36 or over on the official Danske Bank Premiership.
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