Improved diet has kept the likes of West Ham full back Nigel Winterburn playing well into his 30s, although the lure of earning several thousand pounds a week helps too.

The two full backs in the Meridian Athletic II team have no such incentive however.

Lawrie Strange and Charlie Dowsett are defying the advancing years and jokes from their own team-mates to turn out for the Brighton League Division Four side.

The pair are both 50, and left-back Charlie has played for the club since it was formed in 1997.

Amazingly neither fears marking a pacey winger. Charlie said: "These days I need to play with my brain more. I certainly cannot rely upon my pace. I can't remember when I was quick, it was such a long time ago."

Indeed the Meridian left-back admitted the majority of banter about their age comes from their own players.

"We get more stick in our own changing room than out on the pitch to be honest," he said.

"Lawrie and I rely more on our heads than our legs, that is for sure. But we have picked up a trick or two over the years. Stanley Matthews is our role model, he played until he was about 78 or something."

Both the defenders have sons at the club and Charlie confessed it is as much for the younger generation, as themselves that they kept playing.

"It certainly developes their skills and their resilience playing men's football," he said. "Lawrie and I can help them with coming to terms with the step-up from the junior gam "Last season we were in Division Five and some of the opposition used to be a bit rough on the youngsters to intimidate them. So far in Division Four people have played football and the kids are thriving.

"I will carry on playing as long as it's enjoyable. I like helping the youngsters along and both Lawrie and I get a lot of pleasure out of seeing them progress. We are both too long in the tooth to take it seriously.

"The majority of the younger players can handle playing men's football but sometimes we have to put an arm around them and tell them to calm down."

l Are you an ageing parks footballer? Park Life wants to track down Sussex's oldest player and there is a case of beer for the winner. And it is London Pride too - not the awful lager the kids drink today!