One of the star names in the FC United of Manchester line-up at Workington on Tuesday was ex-Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom.
Now 32, Wisdom is a former England Under-21s captain, whose football career changed spectacularly after he was stabbed in 2020.
Wisdom had a quiet but commanding presence on the Borough Park pitch, operating in mid-field during the 0-0 draw.
He and Adam Le Fondre, 38, are two of the former top flight stars playing for NPL Premier Division leaders FC United.
A product of Liverpool’s Academy system, Wisdom made 22 appearances for the first team before being released in 2017.
Leeds-born Wisdom was capped 27 times for England age group teams between the ages of Under-16s and Under-21s.
He signed for Derby County after his release by Liverpool and three years on suffered the stabbing injuries while visiting family in the city.
Wisdom was attacked by several masked men who stole his designer watch after he left a house party in the early hours of the morning.
He admits he shouldn’t have been there as lockdown restrictions were in place and pubs and restaurants closed due to Covid-19.
Hours earlier he had played alongside Wayne Rooney in Derby’s 2-1 win over Reading in the Championship at an empty Pride Park.
Wisdom, who had cost Derby £4m was leaving the party by himself, walking to his car when he was challenged by five men in balaclavas and carrying knives.
As well as his left thigh, Wisdom had also been stabbed in the head, buttocks and chest.
He was back playing for Derby within three months of the attack.
On September 5 2020 – 69 days after he was stabbed – Wisdom made an 85th-minute substitute appearance in a League Cup tie against Barrow.
Wisdom went on to make 40 league and cup appearances for Derby the following season, but his four-year contract – which expired in June 2021 – was not renewed by the financially embarrassed County.
He had played 97 games for Derby (plus 34 in a previous loan spell from Liverpool) when he left Pride Park.
He has subsequently appeared for Warrington Town in National North and Derry City in the League of Ireland.
