Star Bez's still got it - - The official of John Beresford

Press article:

Star Bez's still got it - 11/07/2004

Former Newcastle favourite John Beresford may have missed last week's Northern Masters event - but he has already starred in one golden oldies' competition this summer.

"Bez" is still basking in the glory of victory in the Hong Kong Sevens event for the Professional Footballers' Association's "Phillips All-Stars" side - and winning the Player of the Tournament award.

The 10-man Phillips squad beat Australian outfit Spirit of Sydney in the final after a penalty shoot-out in which former Sunderland goalkeeper Bob Bolder was the hero.

But that victory would not have been possible without a sensational goal by Beresford in a key game during the qualifying rounds.

"There is a team called Lorenzo's All-Stars who are funded by a German millionaire. Money is no object for him and they had players such as Andreas Moller, Michael Rummenige and Uwe Blind," explained Phillips coach Bobby Barnes.

"They were the clear favourites, however we beat them on the golden goal rule with the Player of the Tournament, John Beresford, scoring a goal where he ran the length of the pitch and tucked it away."

Mind you, 37-year-old Bez did have an advantage over the majority of those in attendance, with tournament rules restricting teams to only two under-40 players each.

Other than Beresford and Bolder, the Phillips All-Stars squad was made up of Paul Allen, one-time Newcastle loanee Ian Baird, Gordon Cowans, Micky Gynn, Dean Holdsworth, Dave McPherson, Tony Morley and Paul Walsh.