The Baller League welcomes ex-Portsmouth and Sheffield United duo Ryan Tunnicliffe and Kieron Freeman hungry to prolong playing careers
A former Pompey duo have joined forces in Season 3 of the Baller League.
Ryan Tunnicliffe has turned to the Baller League to reignite his stuttering career.
And the midfielder has been joined by former Pompey team-mate Kieron Freeman for the third season of the competition, which combines social media stars and ex-professionals.
Tunnicliffe was at the heart of controversy which saw technical director Ernest Faber undermine head coach Carl Veart throughout the season.
It had been claimed Faber ostracised the ex-Blues man and instructed him to undergo a physically-demanding training regime in a bid to force him out of the club as part of ‘cost-cutting measures.’
The former Manchester United and Luton Town would eventually depart the A-League side at the end of his two-year deal, which saw him amass just four minutes of action in his final 12 months down under.
Former Pompey duo turn to Baller League
Now the ex-Pompey midfielder has joined forces with Freeman to take part in the upcoming campaign of the Baller League.
The competition is a six-a-side tournament, but one with a difference as it brings together former Premier League players, world stars, celebrities and influencers.
Some of the game's biggest names are involved with the likes of Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Daniel Sturridge and Ian Wright overseeing teams.
The league’s president is YouTube sensation KSI, who has a combined 44m subscribers, with the action getting underway in London’s Copper Box Arena on Sky Sports this evening.
Tunnicliffe and Freeman link-up with N5 FC, which is managed by former Arsenal and Germany keeper Jens Lehmann.
The Fratton duo are also joined by ex-Ipswich, Leeds and Nottingham midfielder Mustapha Carayol and former Cardiff City and Oxford United man Joe Bennett, who trained with Pompey earlier this season.
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Kieron Freeman and Ryan Tunnicliffe’s Pompey careers
Freeman initially arrived at Fratton Park on loan under Paul Cook in 2016, where he amassed seven outings during the second-half of the 2015-16 campaign.
The right-back would make a permanent return to PO4 five years later under Danny Cowley, penning a two-year deal with the Blues.
An ankle injury would force the 33-year-old to miss the second half of the 2021-22 season and would ultimately amass just 32 outings during a frustrating two-year stay.
Since then, Freeman has spent time in the National League with Oldham and Hartlepool and most recently in the National League North with Alfreton Town.
Tunnicliffe also arrived on the south coast in the summer of 2021 joining from Luton Town as Cowley formed his squad in his first transfer window in the hot seat.
The midfielder totalled 69 outings during his two-year stay at Fratton and was released in May 2023, despite improved showings under John Mousinho.
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