Ex-England midfielder Barry joins village club in 11th tier

Former England midfielder Gareth Barry - who holds nan grounds for nan astir Premier League appearances - has signed up to play colony shot successful Mid Sussex.

The 43-year-old has joined Hurstpierpoint, who play successful nan 2nd tier of nan Mid Sussex Football League - nan 11th tier of nan English pyramid.

Barry played 653 games successful nan apical tier for Aston Villa, Manchester City, Everton and West Bromwich Albion successful a master profession spanning 22 years.

He won 53 England caps and scored 3 goals for his country, and was portion of nan Euro 2000 and 2010 World Cup squads.

Barry made 34 convention appearances successful Manchester City's 2011-12 Premier League title-winning season. He besides won nan FA Cup pinch City.

A different situation awaits him successful nan colony game, and Hurstpierpoint's president and first-team head Dudley Christensen told BBC Sport he was relishing having Barry connected board.

"He came on to training and loved us. I don't deliberation he's going to beryllium astir to play each week, but he's a awesome signing and he's going to raise our profile," Christensen said.

"I'll fto him do what he wants to do. He tin play wherever he likes, but I expect he'll beryllium successful beforehand of nan defence and beryllium a shield."

Earlier this month, Barry was fixed a informing by nan Football Association aft he was recovered to person breached regulations complete his relationship to an £800,000 finance successful Swindon Town successful 2013.

Barry's erstwhile agent, Michael Standing, who useful arsenic a coach astatine Hurstpierpoint, was issued pinch a six-month prohibition for his behaviour but this was backdated and truthful considered already served.

Barry is improbable to beryllium heavy progressive successful pre-season pinch his caller club, and a first-team debut is pencilled successful for September.

"I ideate he'll beryllium connected nan teamsheet," said Christensen. "Gareth and Michael [Standing, who played for Bradford and Walsall], erstwhile you spot them connected nan transportation they're still some fresh arsenic butcher's dogs."

Hurstpierpoint had earlier posted connected X, external to say: "Barry is simply a Bluedog!

"We are beyond delighted to denote that erstwhile England world and all-time Premier League grounds quality holder, Gareth Barry, has signed for Hurstpierpoint Football Club."

The nine added: "Gareth has a long-standing relation pinch nan colony done his bully friend, and our coach, Michael Standing; truthful it seemed an evident move to get him progressive pinch nan shot club.

"His value successful training has been unreal, truthful we're each very excited to spot him propulsion connected nan garment and grace nan Fairfield turf later connected this season."