Two former Chester City players have been crowned world champions.

Lee Elam and Tim Ryan - who served the Blues during the 2000s - were part of the England squad that won the Senior World Cup in Thailand.

The pair travelled to Chiang Mai with Harrogate Veterans - a team made up of ex-professionals, semi-pros and amateurs featuring a host of names that will be familiar to Blues fans.

Alongside Elam and Ryan, the squad included the likes of Andy Hessenthaler, Barry Hayles, Gareth Ainsworth, Jason Price, Peter Beagrie and Tranmere favourites Ged Brannan and Kenny Irons.

Tim Ryan in action for Chester City against Forest Green Rovers in 2009
Tim Ryan in action for Chester City against Forest Green Rovers in 2009

Elam moved to Chester on loan from Yeovil Town in March 2004 with the winger making four appearances as the Blues clinched the Conference title and promotion to the Football League. The now 39-year-old's career took in spells at Southport, Morecambe, Halifax Town, Exeter City, Altrincham and Northwich Victoria.

Ryan, now 41, signed for the Blues in summer 2009 from Darlington. The defender became player-assistant manager to Jim Harvey but departed following the club's expulsion from the Football Conference, following Harvey to Stalybridge Celtic.

This was the 11th Senior World Cup and the competition is organised by the Seniors Football Association of Thailand with visiting countries coaching underprivileged children during their trips.

England spent three days in Bangkok, winning a friendly against Thai opposition 6-0 although Elam picked up a knock which kept him out of the group games, before heading to Chaing Mai for the tournament.

Lee Elam made four appearances for Chester during the 2003/04 title-winning campaign
Lee Elam made four appearances for Chester during the 2003/04 title-winning campaign

Ryan opened the scoring in a 6-0 win over Taiwan in their opening game with further goals from Price (2), Beagrie, Hayles and Jamie Clark.

Next up were the USA and goals from Ainsworth and Nicky Southall secured England a 2-0 win and a place in the semi-final.

However, England suffered a 2-1 defeat in their final group game against Iran, whose line-up included several ex-internationals and three players who had been playing for Iranian Premier League side Persepolis last season.

That result meant England would face Scotland for a place in the final and in a high-tempo clash Price's opener and two goals from Hayles capped an excellent team performance in a 3-0 victory.

Thailand edged out Iran on penalties in the other semi-final setting up an intriguing final between the host nation and the two-time winners.

Irons gave England the lead on 24 minutes and although further chances came and went, that was how the game ended as England claimed the trophy for the third time in nine attempts.

Ex-Blues defender Tim Ryan, second from left on the back row, with his England team-mates at the Senior World Cup
Ex-Blues defender Tim Ryan, second from left on the back row, with his England team-mates at the Senior World Cup

Speaking afterwards, England manager Paul Bell said: "The competition has evolved so much in terms of the standard of the players going and the football being played. We had to take a quality squad to compete against other good sides.

"We went out and put in some excellent performances at the right times and deserved to come out on top. What pleased me most was just how much these guys wanted it, no matter what they’d achieved in the game, no matter whether they were ex-pro or semi pro or local - they all had immense pride at wearing the shirt and just wanted to win for England."

England's Senior World Cup winning squad

Steve Phillips, Ian Cox, Dean Barrick, Danny O'Shea, Kenny Mayers, Steve Charles, Gareth Ainsworth, Tim Ryan, Jamie Clarke, Jason Price, Peter Beagrie, Kenny Irons, Mark Bower, John Deacey, Barry Hayles, Mark Brady, Andy Hessenthaler, Blair Nixon, Nicky Southall, Alan Clayton, Ged Brannan, Lee Elam, Andy Barkway.