Forgotten Premier League star, 35, rescues fourth-tier team with last-gasp debut brace

Former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll netted two goals on debut for Bordeaux as they came from 2-0 down to draw with Voltigeurs de Chateaubriant in the fourth tier of French football

Andy Carroll has already endeared himself to the Bordeaux fans after scoring twice on his debut to secure a draw.

Carroll made the surprise move to the fourth-tier French side earlier this week after a spell with Ligue 2 side Amiens. Bordeaux’s club statement touted the 35-year-old former England striker’s "size, his goal-scoring talent and his fighting spirit” – and all three were in evidence on Saturday.

Bordeaux were relegated to the fourth tier of French football after filing from bankruptcy and their struggles have continued on the pitch this season. They are yet to win this season and appeared to be heading for defeat when away side Voltigeurs de Chateaubriant took a 2-0 lead.

However, Carroll had other ideas. The big Geordie striker turned in a rebound expertly on the volley to pull a goal back from close range in the 72nd minute before providing a trademark header for the equaliser. Rising highest from an outswinging corner in the 88th minute, he powered the ball into the top corner from eight yards out before celebrating wildly with his new team-mates in front of the home fans.

Les Girondins are still yet to pick up a win in four matches in the Championnat National 2, but now they have hope in the form of Carroll, who is delighted with his start. “Debut double. The journey starts here,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I want to try and make history here,” he told reporters. “The crowd and the supporters were fantastic throughout the game, even though we were 2-0 down. I think they motivated us and kept us going. That’s probably how we came back.”

Carroll is a good match with Bordeaux, having himself gone from the top of the game to lower divisions. Liverpool paid Newcastle £35million to secure his services in 2011, but he never made the grade at Anfield. Nevertheless, he scored two goals in nine caps for England, playing at Euro 2012 for his country, and registered 54 goals in 248 appearances during spells with Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham.

Bordeaux have six Ligue 1 titles in their history and last lifted the trophy in 2008/09 with Zinedine Zidane among their ranks and with Laurent Blanc as manager. But financial issues have seen them fall on hard times and force them to start again in the fourth tier.

Despite the lack of a win in four games so far – and the side sitting 15th out of 16 teams in the division – there has been some bright sparks. Goalkeeper Lassana Diabate made headlines earlier this month after scoring a dramatic late equaliser and the team’s spirit remains in place.

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