Lydd joint-manager James Rogers has joked he could play at centre-half until he’s 50.

Rogers turned 39 at the weekend but has no plans to retire any time soon.

A midfielder by trade, he could always drop into the backline to prolong his career.

He said: “I could play centre-half easily enough.

“I could probably play there till I’m 50, it’s that easy.

“I don’t know what they moan about.”

More seriously, Rogers intends to keep playing for at least two more years.

His match fitness is improving all the time after an early-season ankle injury and he remains an important player at the Southern Counties East club.

“If I look after myself properly I still think I’ve got a couple of good years in me for Lydd,” said Rogers.

“I had a lay-off at the start of the season and put on a bit of weight but I’m starting to burn that off now and sort myself out.

“I’ve always been quite naturally fit.

“I’m doing a job and I feel I can still do it, so all the time I can get out of bed and walk and feel like I’m adding something on the pitch, I’ll continue to play.”

Rogers recently saw former Maidstone team-mate Lee Worgan retire a couple of months shy of his 40th birthday.

He doesn’t intend to go the same way.

“I went to Worgs’ 40th the other day,” said Rogers. “He’s definitely looking his age.”

Rogers has been surprised by the standard in Southern Counties East.

After a career spent at higher levels, the former Dover, Dartford and Maidstone man expected an easier ride at Step 5.

But the league has improved in recent years, with ambitious clubs looking to climb the pyramid.

“This league isn’t easy,” said Rogers.

“I thought dropping down would be easier but there’s a lot of athletic players at this level.

“They’re probably not technically as good as they are at levels above but they can certainly get around the pitch and move.

“There’s money filtering down now and I think that’s the difference these days.

“The money being paid in the SCEFL, it’s higher than when I was playing in the Conference at Dartford.”

Lydd, hit by successive postponements at Tunbridge Wells and Lordswood, host Fisher at the Lindsey Field on Saturday (3pm).