MANCHESTER, England - Ryan Giggs path to becoming the most durable and decorated player of the English Premier League era can be traced back almost 32 years, to the moment his precocious talents were spotted by a milkman on a muddy school pitch in north-west Manchester. Michael Thomas Jersey . "He was just like a gazelle, flying up the wing," recalled Dennis Schofield, who happened to also be a scout at Manchester City. "I thought, Flipping heck, hes good this kid." Giggs was just 8 at the time, but his close control, pace and skills had Schofield salivating. "He is the most outstanding player Ive seen at that age, even now. Like Stanley Matthews," Schofield, now 82, told The Associated Press. Three decades on and the comparison with Matthews could not be more apt. Like the England great, who played top-level football until he was 50, Giggs longevity is going down in folklore. On Friday, the Manchester United midfielder turned 40. His hair is thinning and greying, his turn of pace isnt what it was, and he is used more sparingly by the English champions, where he is now also part of the coaching staff under manager David Moyes. But Giggs the player is showing no sign of decline. From central midfield, he was the driving force behind Uniteds devastating 5-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday in the Champions League, club footballs top and most intense competition. He played 90 minutes, too. And dont be surprised to see him featuring for United against Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday. That would be his 953rd club appearance, all coming for United since his debut in 1991. "I dont know what the younger lads think of me," Giggs said. "When I was 17 and 18, I thought 31 was ancient. Here I am, at 40." Teddy Sheringham, Kevin Phillips (who is still playing in the top flight for Crystal Palace) and Gordon Strachan are the only other outfield footballers to have played in the Premier League in their fifth decade. But none of the trio performed at the elite level throughout their careers as Giggs has done — and no one has come near his haul of titles and medals. The list keeps growing: 13 Premier Leagues, four FA Cups, three League Cups, two Champions Leagues, one UEFA Super Cup, an Intercontinental Cup and a Club World Cup. He is the only player to have scored a goal in every Premier League season, has the most appearances in the Champions League (148), and played 1,021 professional games for club and country. His solo goal in the FA Cup semifinal replay against Arsenal in 1999, where he set off from inside his own half, jinked round three defenders and slammed a shot into the roof of the net, has gone down as one of the greatest goals in English football. Giggs doesnt see himself quitting any time soon, either. Since turning 30, he has undertaken regular yoga sessions, which is an accepted method of keeping in shape even if, years ago, it earned funny looks in the macho world of football. He has also refined his game, playing deeper in midfield rather than on the wings. He relies on speed of thought rather than the speed of his legs, and he is way ahead of the rest. "Hes an unbelievable footballer," Moyes said, "and is even getting better." Tributes to Giggs poured in from across the country on Friday. Moyes said he "undoubtedly" the leagues best ever player and former teammate Mark Hughes — now manager at Stoke — said the success Giggs has had "wont be replicated by anyone." "Maybe he is like a good Bordeaux (wine)," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger mused, "he gets better as he gets older." Schofield believes the natural fitness Giggs is blessed with means he could go on for another four of five years — and he has been right about the Welshman before. Schofield recalls his chance first encounter with Giggs as if it was yesterday. "I was on my milkfloat this day and all these kids came out of school," he said in a phone interview. "I said, Are you going playing? and they said, Yeah, just down the road. "So I parked my milkfloat up and went and watched them. They kicked off and this young lad, 8 years old, playing on the left wing. My, he had some pace on him, good control. Everything." Schofield spoke to Giggs mother, who was watching on the touchline, and invited the youngster to train with a local team, Deans. He spent years nurturing Giggs, taking him on tours to the Isle of Wight where, Schofield reminisces, "parents left their own teams, their own kids who were playing, to come across and watch Ryan play." Then came the moment Schofield has forever regretted. "I got him down to Man City and told the chief scout, When he is 14, youd better be down at his house because there will be quite a few clubs knocking on his door. He told me not to worry, that (Giggs) father has shaken hands on it and will sign for us. "Well, on that morning he was 14, the only people who were at his house were Alex Ferguson and (former United scout) Joe Brown. They signed him on. Our chief scout was still sat in his office, waiting for him to come down to City. And the rest is history." Citys loss was Uniteds gain — and 26 years later, Giggs is still ramming that message home. "I still enjoy training, the buzz before the game, the buzz when we win," Giggs told The Times of London. "As long as that lasts, Ill carry on." Larry Csonka Jersey . Joining him in this years class were Switzerlands Patrick Huerlimann and Norways Eigil Ramsfjell. The announcement was made at the world mens curling championship at Capital Indoor Stadium in China. Raekwon McMillan Jersey . On Sunday, hell attempt to become the youngest driver to win a NASCAR Nationwide race on Iowas short track. The 20-year-old Blaney wont be the only kid pushing a podium finish. http://www.thedolphinsfansclub.com/Black-Reshad-Jones-Dolphins-Jersey.html?cat=882 . Today, well look at five frontcourt players today, here from the Bay Area. 1. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): I cant figure out what the issue or problem is, but based upon what Im seeing, hes not right.CAIRO, Egypt -- Egypt must eliminate 2010 quarterfinalist Ghana to make it to the World Cup for the first time in over 20 years after the countries were drawn Monday to face each other in Africas decisive playoffs. Top-ranked African team Ivory Coast will meet Senegal in the two-leg series starting next month to decide which one of those West African powers makes it to Brazil. In the other matchups: Ethiopia will face African champion Nigeria as it attempts to reach the World Cup for the first time; Tunisia will play Cameroon after the North Africans were re-instated to the playoffs in place of Cape Verde; and African Cup runner-up Burkina Faso, also hoping for its first appearance at footballs main event, was drawn against Algeria. The first legs will be played between October 11-15 and the second legs a month later, ultimately deciding Africas five representatives at the World Cup and ending the two-year qualifying competition. Egypt, a record seven-time African champion, last went to the World Cup in 1990. But despite the constant distraction of violent unrest at home, former United States coach Bob Bradley led the Egyptians to the 10-team playoffs with a perfect run in group qualifying. "We are the strongest team in the group. We are not afraid of confronting Ghana," Bradley said at the draw. Ghana was the best-performing African team at the last World Cup, when it beat the Bradley-led United States in the second round, and will be at home in the first leg. Authorities havent yet decided if fans will be allowed in to the second leg in Egypt, where recent national team games have been held behind closed doors and in the Red Sea resort of El Gouna, away from the countrys unsettled major cities. Ivory Coast was pitted against Senegal about a year after a riot at a stadium in Dakar whenn they met in African Cup qualifying. Kenyan Drake Jersey. . Ivory Coast will be at home first. Senegal reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002, only the third African country to achieve that feat, but hasnt appeared on the biggest stage since then. Ethiopia emerged from a long spell of underperforming to play at the African Cup of Nations this year, but faces a tough draw against new African champion Nigeria. Ethiopia hosts the first leg. Tunisia was given a second chance at the World Cup after Cape Verde forfeited its victory over the Tunisians in the final round of group games and was thrown out the playoffs for playing Fernando Varela when he should have been suspended. Tunisia will be led by interim coach Ruud Krol after Nabil Maaloul quit in disgust at the 2-0 home loss to Cape Verde days before Tunisia was reinstated by FIFA. "It is a chance for redemption for the Tunisian players," said Youssef Zouaoui, Tunisias technical director of national teams. Tunisia will host Cameroon first, which will be without all-time leading scorer Samuel Etoo for the playoffs after the Chelsea striker retired from the national team. Burkina Faso surprisingly reached the final of the African Cup this year, while Algeria, ranked No. 3 in Africa behind Ivory Coast and Ghana, is seeking successive appearances at World Cups. "We avoided teams like Senegal, Cameroon and above all Egypt, but we must not get cocky, it will be 50-50," Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic said on national radio. Burkina Faso hosts the first leg before the underdog Burkinabes chase their place in history away in Algeria. "We believe playing the second leg away from home could be advantageous with our opponent feeling a lot pressure at home," Burkinabe Football Federation president Sita Sangare said. Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '