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Gareth Barry celebrates making most appearances since league changed name

Veteran West Brom midfielder now king of the post-rebrand era.

Gareth Barry playing for Everton
GOER: Gareth (Image: Tommy Low)

Gareth Barry has made history for becoming the record appearance holder in the English top flight since it rebranded for commercial reasons.

The veteran midfielder started for West Brom in their 2-0 defeat at Arsenal, toppling Ryan Giggs’s achievement of 632 games since the cynical name change.

Journalists marked the occasion by recalling Barry’s 1998 debut for Aston Villa, forcing many innocent people to remember John Gregory.

Speaking exclusively to Football Burp, Barry expressed his delight at the arbitrary landmark.

He said: “I’m made up, to be fair. This will go perfectly with the ‘Most Appearances Since the Spice Girls Broke Up’ trophy on my mantelpiece.

“I imagine Ryan Giggs will be crying into his brother’s wife right about now.”