Are these the best veterans now in the lower leagues? feat. former Man United and Sunderland stars

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Jonathon Stead

Jonathon Stead is a name that; until recently, would well and truly have been pushed out of the mind of almost every football fan. It was only when his new side Notts County faced non-league outfit Salford City in the televised first round of the FA Cup this year that everyone had that nostalgic moment of recollection and remembered who he was.

Once upon a time, Stead was keeping Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League though, firing in vital winners against Fulham, Manchester United and Everton, which ended in eleven appearances for the England Under-21 national side.

Short spells at Sunderland and Sheffield United followed, yet Stead’s sporadic goals weren’t enough from preventing the latter from relegation in the 2006/2007 season. After struggling with competition from James Beattie and Billy Sharp in the following season, Stead’s descent down the Football League began.

Since his man of the match display in Bradford’s 4-2 FA Cup upset at Stamford Bridge last season, Stead has scored a tidy return of eleven goals in his 38 games in League Two, leading Notts County away from any potential relegation battles.