HE'S BIG, HE'S BAD, HE'S OLDER THAN MY DAD!

Peter Shilton holds the record for appearances in English Association Football at the higher level, with 1005 matches. But he is a goalkeeper and of course less strained than outfield players, and therefore goalies have greater longevity, Burridge and co!
The chant above was heard at Spotland, Rochdale and sung about their ageing hero.
Tony Ford MBE (awarded in 2000) on 3rd November turned out for Rochdale at Spotland in a
Football League trophy tie against Torquay United and became the most selected outfield player in football history.

Making his debut in October 1975 at 16, Ford notched 931 league appearances in his long career with 107 goals over 26 seasons. Along with cup matches he has passed 1000 games. He also played twice for England B.

At 51, he retired from coaching and scouting for Grimsby. Between his debut and then 423 appearances for home town, Grimsby, in two spells, he then went on to Sunderland, Stoke City (112), West Brom (114), Bradford City, Scunthorpe, Barrow, Mansfield (103) and then Rochdale up to 2001.

Graeme Alexander matched his record with over 1000 appearances at Scunthorpe (159) Luton (152), Preston (354), Burnley (154) between 1990-2012 and 40 times for Scotland between 2002-9.
As a manager, he worked most recently at Fleetwood and briefly at Preston between 2011-15.

Name a few others in the top ten with record breaking football appearances.