Julio Arca rolled back the years with a simply phenomenal 40-yard lob playing for a non-league football club at the weekend.
When Julio Arca was in the Premier League playing for Sunderland and Middlesbrough he wasn't just a fans' favourite at those clubs, but also someone the neutral loved to watch because of the moments of magic he would habitually produce. He arrived at the Stadium of Light from Argentinos Juniors in 2000 (after Peter Reid spotted him playing for Argentina's youth side against England at Craven Cottage) and proceeded to battle gamely around the middle of the Premier League for about thirteen years.
It's always good to see ex-pros going on to slug it out in the lower leagues for a couple of years before retirement. It belies a true love of the game, no matter what reward is to be gained from playing it or what glory can be achieved.
And it's probably fair to say that Arca is not being paid a fortune to play for South Shields FC in Division One of the English Northern League (five divisions below the Football League).
Shields were taking on Team Solent in the Buildbase FA Vase at the weekend and ended up winning 5-2. Their tally included this absolute screamer from Arca:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR0iBiS1yNc
Rolling back the years, indeed.
