By Pete Oliver

McCarthy played for Carlisle in 2003

A total of 19 international caps, a full-time job, three young children, 36 years on the clock and a thrice broken leg might be enough to persuade many footballers to call it a day.

Not Jon McCarthy, who is happy to keep all of his plates spinning while prolonging his career at Northwich Victoria.

A lecturer in sports science and academy football coach, McCarthy trains once a week with the Vics and come Saturday or Tuesday plays a key role as one of the team's senior professionals.

"I am focussed on the teaching as well as this now, but when it comes to match day I still feel competitive and I'm still bawling and still shouting at referees so it still matters," he told BBC Sport.

McCarthy is now a full-back rather than the tricky winger who excelled for York City, Port Vale, Birmingham and, despite being Middlesbrough-born, Northern Ireland.

I wasn't sure I'd be able to hack it again at Conference level Jon McCarthy

But he is still one of the fittest players at Northwich and with the team, which operates part-time, accommodating his work needs, McCarthy remains a regular on the team-sheet.

"I wasn't sure I'd be able to hack it again at Conference level, but it's been all right and it's sort of freshened me up training just once a week and I've been able to cope," he said.

"There are times when you know you can't play like you used to, but I think I would recognise when I wasn't quite good enough.

"I have not played all of the games. At the start of the season I think they were looking for young lads to come through but there have been some injuries and we didn't do as well at the beginning and I have been able to come into the team and do a job and still enjoy it."

Enjoyment has been key to McCarthy's longevity - as well as a sense of making up for lost time.

After leaving Birmingham in 2002, he drifted around a number of clubs, including brief spells back at Port Vale and York.

JON McCARTHY Born: Middlesbrough, August 1970 International caps: 19 Clubs: Hartlepool, Shepshed Charter, York, Port Vale, Birmingham, Sheff Wed, Doncaster, Carlisle, Hucknall Town, Northwich Victoria

McCarthy added: "I probably should have been able to play some more (League) football but it coincided with ITV Digital collapsing and there wasn't a lot of money around and I had three injuries.

"I think if I had packed in then I would have felt I was missing something.

"But I got the chance to join Steve Burr at Hucknall and I went part-time and started getting my coaching qualifications and used my degree that I had before I came into football and got into teaching.

"Fortunately I then came across here to Northwich with Steve and it coincided with a job at the (Mid-Cheshire) college."

The relationship with Burr has been mutually beneficial with the pair winning the UniBond League in 2004 at Hucknall before teaming up again at Northwich.

The first season ended in disappointment with the Vics being relegated for off-the-field issues to spend an enforced 12 months in the Conference North.

"There were a couple of Tuesday nights when you were playing in front of 200 people and you wondered what you were doing. But we were going well and playing some good football, so it was OK," McCarthy said.

As champions, the Vics returned to the Conference National this season with McCarthy happy to keep going.

McCarthy in action for Northern Ireland in Germany in 1999

He has played in more than half the Vics' games to date to help Burr's side try and gain a foothold in a competitive division, while pursuing an FA Trophy run which has taken them to the quarter-finals.

"I've not come into Sunday League football here. There are some good players around in the Conference, there is good football played and there are not many bad pitches left in this division," McCarthy said.

"We've got a brand-new stadium, we're in good facilities, there are a lot of ex-professionals around and the manager and (assistant) Dave Moss do it properly so it still feels like real football.

"We do have one of the smallest budgets in the league and there are not many of us who are still part-time at this level.

"We are able to compete but we have had a lot of injuries and I don't think it's a bad position we are in, and obviously we are still in the FA Trophy."

McCarthy still has plenty to play for, but whether that will be for just a few more months or one more year remains to be seen.

"We'll see how the season finishes and then I will have a chat with the gaffer," he said.

"It might make my mind up, it might make the gaffer's mind up. A couple of bad games and I might not have a decision to make!"