Premier League legend, 46, looks like he hasn’t aged a day as he scores screamer in charity match
A PREMIER LEAGUE legend rolled back the years to score a screamer in a charity match.
James Beattie was joined by ex-Prem stars Theo Walcott, Morgan Schneiderlin and Matt Le Tissier in the Southampton Legends game against current boss Russell Martin’s XI.
Former Premier League striker James Beattie bagged a worldie at St Mary’s
The 46-year-old hardly celebrated after proving age is just a number before the Saints Legends went on to lose on penalties
St Mary’s played host to two teams of former footballing stars, pulled together by the likes of Glenn Cockerill – and current gaffer Martin himself.
But Martin’s XI, mostly made up of retired Norwich City stars, needed penalties to beat the Saints Legends following a 4-4 draw on Sunday.
And Southampton icon Beattie proved he’s still got it after hammering a sublime strike into the top corner from 20 yards.
The ex-Stoke City striker – wearing the same No9 he donned as a Saint – patiently waited for Shane Long to offload it.
The 46-year-old then perfectly curled the ball into the net past 51-year-old Jimmy Walker, who had earlier saved a Rickie Lambert penalty, with 15 minutes remaining.
Fans were left stunned as one said: “Class is permanent ”
Beattie briefly reduced the deficit to 3-2 before competition winner Craig Swanborough had his big moment, scoring from close range to restore the two-goal advantage for Martin’s XI.
Andrew Surman pulled another one back before spot-kick specialist Le Tissier scored a contentious 91st minute penalty to bring penalties.
Beattie spent eight years at Southampton, scoring 68 goals
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Walcott, who retired in 2023 after departing St Mary’s, scored an unstoppable equaliser with his own first-half wonder goal from 30 yards.
The former Arsenal star then whipped out Marcus Rashford’s signature celebration – where he points to his temple – after promising a local child he’d do so.
Got the celebration ready, @theowalcott? 🙂👈
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) October 9, 2024
Theo has been to see how @SFC_Foundation is supporting secondary schools across Southampton with its Community Champions programme: pic.twitter.com/OJi96ZT5FV
When visiting a local school in Southampton, Walcott asked the youngster, after inviting him to the charity game: “When I score, and I will score, what do you want me to do?”
To which the schoolboy named Cam responded: “The Marcus Rashford.”
The former England international was named Man of the Match as he rolled back the years in front of 7,000 fans.
The game was played to raise funds for various charities, including the Saints Foundation.
Walcott pulled out Marcus Rashford’s signature celebration in dedication to a local fan
In the shootout, Saints boss Martin stepped up first and scored, setting the tone for his team.
Before heroes Walcott and Beattie both missed their penalties in the shootout to give the away side a 4-2 shootout victory.
Martin, 38, actually started the game himself from centre-back.
The Prem manager played the pantomime villain as he was booed every time he touched it in the early stages, which peaked when he slipped over less than five minutes in.
He was hauled off after 60 minutes and limped across the dugout to meet young fans, who rapidly amassed an army on the advertising boards.
Martin will return to manage Southampton against Leicester when the Prem returns on Saturday.
Russell Martin acted as a player-coach for his side that beat the Saints Legends on penalties over the weekend
