HE left Bradford City over 20 years ago, and he has been retired for over a decade, but Edinho has "still got it".

The striker captained the City Veterans side in the Algarve at the weekend, and showed his class with a stunning hat-trick in their 8-1 win over Louletano DC.

The tour ended on a slightly sour note, with a 2-1 defeat to Destination Football on Sunday, but it was that man Edinho who grabbed the consolation in that one.

City Veterans' player-manager Lee Clapham, a former apprentice at the now League Two club, said: "Edinho's absolutely still got it.

"He's fit as a fiddle and did really well last week.

"He fits in well with the other lads, and has good crack with them. It was great to have him on board.

"He's living out in Portugal and this is the second time he's played for us in the Algarve.

"We were out here playing in 2019, and he got wind of the fact we were playing, because he turned up to watch in a Bradford City shirt.

"I called him down from the stands and asked if he was fit enough to play, so he came on and did so.

"Later that year, he came over to the UK to play in a charity match for Alan Gilliver (a Bantams legend who was diagnosed with dementia around a decade ago).

"He was also a guest of honour at a match with Oldham, alongside myself and Lee Duxbury, and we've kept in touch since.

"We're hoping to get him over to the UK for another game around February or March time."

Former Bantams players Graeme Tomlinson and Neil Grayston joined Edinho in the team in the Algarve, along with several ex semi-pros from in and around Bradford who support City.

Clapham said: "It's great to have those supporters of the club, who've played locally in non-league, mixing with ex-City players.

"These are lads that watch Bradford City week in, week out, so it's great to have them involved alongside the former pros.

"The majority of us have been together for 10 years now, though naturally some have dropped out and others have joined in that time.

"You have to have played to a half-decent level to get in the side though, as we take it seriously.

"Our legs have gone a bit, but the knowhow is still there."

The City Veterans have raised over £4,000 for charities, including the Bradford Burns Unit, down the years, something that Clapham is keen to emphasise the importance of.

He said: "Initially we were just doing it for fun, but over the last few years, we started to realise we had the opportunity to raise some money from all of it.

"We played a match for Cancer Research UK not too long ago, and there was that Allan Gilliver game, where we raised money for Pathways, a mental health charity that supports those affected by early onset dementia.

"We also raised about £1,200 for the Bradford Burns Unit, and were able to present a cheque to their director, Professor Ajay Mahajan, which was special."