STUART PEARCE came out retirement yesterday to sign a one-game deal with the team dubbed the worstin English football.

Longford AFC have conceded 179 goals in 19 matches, scoring only one, which has left them rooted firmly to the bottom of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division Two.

The non-league club hope the ex-England left-back can help them halt one of the worst runs in football.

Pearce, who retired 14 years ago, began his career in the non-leagues with Wealdstone and is happy to give back to a part of football which he sees as “essential” to the game.

“I believe grassroots football is essential to the lifeblood of the game,” said Pearce.

“I started out in non-league football playing for Wealdstone before joining Coventry City so I’m looking forward to working with manager Nick Dawe and helping a group of talented young footballers achieve their dreams.

“Hopefully [this can] transform both the dressing room confidence, as well as the on-pitch performance and seeing how far they can go up the league.”

Dawe is delighted to be able to call upon a player with 78 caps for England and hopes Pearce’s presence will change the fortunes of the club.

“We started the league with only 13 players,” he said. “But now the media attention around Stuart Pearce’s signing has seen our squad number now reach 25 first-team players.

“A year ago we were playing in front of one man and his dog and now we are set to [have] hundreds for Pearce’s debut.”

“Pearce has been there and done it will give us the best chance possible to go further than we ever have done before.”

Dawe did add that he will be treated like every other player. saying: “He knows that there will be no special treatment, he will still need to pay his £5 a game subs.”