Former Newcastle striker Nile Ranger is back among the headlines after scoring the winner in a famous FA Cup upset.
Eleven years on from his Newcastle United exit, Nile Ranger finds himself playing for Kettering Town in the seventh tier of English football.
The now 33-year-old striker was once seen as a promising prospect at St James’ Park after bursting through the academy into the first team.
But a series of disciplinary issues held Ranger back and he ended up leaving Newcastle in 2013 after scoring three goals in 62 appearances.
Ranger only joined Kettering Town in September and he has now scored one of their biggest goals in recent history.
Nile Ranger scores dramatic late goal in FA Cup
In the first round of the FA Cup, Kettering Town were drawn away to local rivals Northampton Town.
Despite being huge underdogs, and going a goal down in the first half, Kettering caused a huge cup upset by eliminating the League One outfit.
Luca Miller equalised for the visitors to send the game to extra time, and in the 92nd-minute Ranger nodded in the winner.
The former Newcastle striker celebrated by holding his boot up to the celebrating crowd at Sixfields Stadium.
BBC Sport shared a video of Ranger’s goal, hailing it as “incredible” as he sealed a “famous” FA Cup victory.
Ranger was involved in another FA Cup upset in 2022 when he featured for Boreham Wood as they beat Bournemouth.
Nile Ranger reveals regret at wasted Newcastle opportunity
Ranger was once considered a breakthrough star and featured in the Premier League, but it looks as though he will end his career as a hero for Kettering Town.
He recently reflected on his career and admitted to BBC Sport that he was “wild” during his younger years.
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“Team-mates, friends and managers would say: ‘Nile, your chances are going to run out’. I wouldn’t listen. I was wild, wild, wild,” he said.
“I know I have baggage. If I had behaved I would have stayed at the top, but I was too unruly.”
Newcastle were right to get rid of Ranger when they did, but it’s great to see him making headlines for the right reasons at Kettering Town.
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