Player-coach Jamie Coyle warmed up for pre-season by helping the England seniors to World Cup success.

Coyle - who was player-boss at Ramsgate last season and now assistant at Erith & Belvedere - returns to training on Saturday fresh from helping his country to victory in Thailand.

Turning 40 meant he had a shot at the England seniors team and he’s delighted he took up the offer of representing his country in the Far East.

“It was one of the best experiences I have ever had,” he said, having played in all of England’s matches, including the final against holders Iran which they won 1-0.

“It’s the first time I have been selected because I have only just turned 40. I wasn’t too sure what to expect but it was really professional, a brilliant experience to win it and beat the champions Iran.

“I came back 4.5 kg lighter, I wasn’t expected to play every game, it was 50 degree humidity out there, it was really tough, but I ended up playing every single game, even the friendlies, but it was good and I feel ready for pre-season that’s for sure!”

Former Gillingham player and coach Ian Cox – who was part of the Trinidad and Tobago squad at the 2006 FIFA World Cup – was also involved. He’s now working in the community department at Premier League Bournemouth.

Another ex-Gills player, title-winning striker Deon Burton, also featured. His goals in the semi-final against Australia – including a spectacular overhead kick - sent England through to the final.

Former Portsmouth and Tottenham player Sean Davis and ex-Fulham striker Barry Hayles were also involved.

Coyle said: “Deon did really well at Gills, Sean Davis was an unbelievable player but had a bad injury towards the end of his career and I remember watching Barry Hayles on Match of the Day a few years ago scoring goals.

“It was great to be in the same changing room as these players who have played at the highest level.”

All of the games were played in Bangkok after the England squad had acclimatised in Pattaya.

Coyle and the team weren’t there to party, however.

He said: “We were in a really lively place, Pattaya is meant to be one of the liveliest places in Thailand, but we were training every day, we would have team meetings, talking about set-pieces, doing analysis on the opposition, it ended up being a really professional training camp.

“It was great for me because towards the end of last season I took myself out of the team at Ramsgate, going into the play-offs, so for me it was like a pre pre-season, getting fit again, getting sharp, you can’t get much better than playing games in 50 degree humidity, you are going to get fitter and stronger.

“It was a really good experience, the management team took it really serious, as you would expect for a World Cup at any level. It was great to bring the cup home.”

The team made sure they celebrated properly too, however.

He said: “We had a night out in Bangkok, which is where we had the gala dinner at the end of the final. It continued into the next day and then we got picked up for the airport, so there were a few sore heads on the plane back but it was great, a real good group, everyone was together, considering nobody really knew each other before we got together.

“ A few had been before but there were a lot of first-timers out there like myself and did well to perform well and get the victory at the end.”

Coyle hopes to get a call-up to the next World Cup but knows he’ll need to keep in top shape.

He said: “Hopefully I have done it enough next year to carry it on and keep myself fit for the next few years.

“It is a little more motivation to keep ticking over and playing as much as I can and hopefully that leads to another selection for England next year, fingers crossed.

“To represent my country, put the England shirt on and sing the National Anthem was an honour and not many people get that opportunity.”

Coyle played 30-odd games for Ramsgate last season and nearly 40 before that so was an ideal candidate for the senior squad.

The experienced defender and UEFA A-licenced coach, who counts Margate, Maidstone, Dartford and Welling among his former clubs, starts a new chapter with Erith & Belvedere this season as assistant to Matt Longhurst at the Isthmian South East side.

The Deres’ pre-season training starts on Saturday, with Coyle linking up with his old Dulwich team-mate Chris Dickson and Billy Crook, who has joined the squad for the new season.

He said: “I am really looking forward to working with Matt Longhurst again. He took me to Ramsgate and is probably the most knowledgeable manager/coach that I have worked for.

“I am excited to go back and work together, we bounce off each other really well, we have always kept in contact when he left Ramsgate and said we would work together again one day, we are both looking forward to it.

“The signings we have put together as well, it has been really positive. With so much money around in our league we will go under the radar a bit which is quite nice, hopefully we will have a really successful season.

“Nobody is really talking about us because we have only just been promoted from the league below, we’re not throwing ridiculous money around, and that allows you to get on with your own business and hopefully surprise a few when we start the season.”