Wayne Andrews represented Crystal Palace in the Premier League but had not played a professional match since 2006 before he made a shock return this week

Wayne Andrews, the former Crystal Palace and Watford striker has left fans gobsmacked by making his first appearance on the pitch in nearly 16 years.

The former top-flight hitman, whose career took him from Vicarage Road and to the Premier League with Palace after stints with Oldham, Colchester, and some Non-League sides, hung up his boots at 31. But he’s shown it’s never too late for a comeback, lacing up once more for Wealdstone in their game with Brighton U21s on Tuesday.

Last year, the 47-year-old was named head of strength and conditioning for the National League side. With the team short on players for their National League Cup showdown, Andrews got the nod at the eleventh hour to step in as a player.

Andrews then entered the fray as a sub in the 76th minute, with Wealdstone trailing 1-0. He didn’t find the back of the net, but for Andrews, who had a kidney transplant in 2016, just being there was the real victory, despite joking that he had to soften his joints with “WD40”.

“Here’s where the story starts: I was asked on Tuesday if I could register as one of the players as we were low on numbers,” Andrews said in a video on social media. “I haven’t played for almost 16 years and obviously having a kidney transplant, just doing what I done at 47 was an honour, and I loved it.

“Just being back in that whole environment, being amongst the players. Listen, I train with them every day so being with them and just being fit was all I needed for me to say yes.”

The clip captured the seasoned forward cracking jokes with his mates, gearing up to hit the field, throwing in some solid tackles and even outpacing Brighton’s young guns.

Andrews added: “Listen enjoy life, no matter what the age, no matter what the circumstances, ill or not, live your life and be the best version you can be. To all my old 40+ people, keep doing you.”

The night was topped off when Andrews engaged in a dance with a supporter, celebrating his unexpected return to the game. But the fitness guru, who’s worked with Manchester United legend Andy Cole, didn’t skip his post-match ice bath for recovery.

It was a touching scene for Andrews, who’s been upfront about his battle with kidney failure. Yet, this isn’t the first time Andrews has made a last-gasp career move.

Back in 2004, he switched from Colchester to Palace just minutes before the transfer window slammed shut. Andrews played nine times for Iain Dowie’s squad in the top league but, looking back he wishes he hadn’t made the leap.

“Looking back now I probably wouldn’t have gone but I kept on getting phone calls about it and I was almost spending the money before I had got it,” Andrews said.

“I had pre-season with Colchester and then the manager called me in and said that I wasn’t going anywhere. I went down to speak to Palace but Colchester still refused to let me go but I said that if they didn’t let me sign then I wouldn’t be in the same frame of mind that I had been bearing in mind that Palace were in the Premiership.

“I ended up signing at two minutes to twelve, just before the deadline.”