You're dropped: Former West Ham star Ian Pearce falls 11 leagues

Last season Ian Pearce was mixing it with the Premier League's superstars.

Now he pays to turn out for a village team - but gets a discount for being unemployed.

The defender, 34, who was in the top flight with Fulham until May, has dropped 11 divisions to keep playing.

He was given a free transfer after injury problems and has joined Oxted & District FC.

It is a far cry from his title-winning days at Blackburn alongside Alan Shearer in 1995 - and the time West Ham splashed out £3.5million to sign the tough tackler.

The multi-millionaire began at Oxted and now pays £2.50 match subs in the Surrey South Eastern Combination First Division - after his 50 per cent jobless reduction.

He scored on his debut on Saturday as Oxted beat Westminster Casuals 4-1 in front of a record crowd of 150.

Joint Manager Peter Green said: "I'm still pinching myself that he's signed for us.

"But he's just one of the lads and we're chuffed to have him around.

"He has come home to finish his playing days where it all started."

Glory of title win

Ian Pearce began his pro career at Chelsea before helping Blackburn Rovers win the Premiership in 1995.

Moves to West Ham and Fulham were marred by injuries but he still racked up more than 200 top-flight games.