Manchester United Legend Paul Scholes Takes Training with Stalybridge

It’s rare that a new manager comes in to a football club hoping he can live up to the example set by the guy who was taking the training sessions—on a voluntary basis—before his arrival.

However, that is exactly the situation that faces Keith Briggs at Conference North side Stalybridge Celtic.

Briggs was announced as the club’s new permanent manager on Friday, ensuring the man taking training this week is no longer needed.

That man? None other than former Manchester United and England legend Paul Scholes.

Scholes, who retired from football at the end of last season, is famous for keeping a low profile—but was happy to help out Stalybridge in their time of need by taking training sessions with the first team throughout the week, after former boss Jim Harvey left by mutual consent at the start of the month.

Scholes has a close association with the Greater Manchester outfit; his 14-year-old son, Aaron, has been progressing through the club's youth structure since he was just five.

The 38-year-old has been a regular presence at the club as he supports his son, with his links to the side—in the sixth-tier of English football’s pyramid—continuing to grow.

In the summer, Scholes came out of retirement to play in a "Dads vs. Coaches" fundraising game, with his presence helping the club raise funds towards renovating the team’s clubhouse.

He previously played in the 2011 edition of the match, scoring a hat-trick.

“He comes down to training and supports Aaron as much as he can,” club manager Liam Whitehead told the Manchester Evening News in July. “To everyone at the club he’s just one of the dads.”

And now to the players, he’s one of the (former) coaches, too.