Gareth McAuley's still bucking the trend
In an era where players are frequently written off for failing to set the world alight by the age of 20, Gareth McAuley emphatically bucks the trend.
Having turned professional at 24, the Albion centre-back was past 30 by the time of his top-flight debut.
And now, at 35 years young, he stands on the brink of arguably his greatest career achievement.
Victory against Greece in Belfast tomorrow night would seal Northern Ireland's Euro qualification, the first time they will have reached a major tournament for 33 years.
"Getting to the Euros would be the crowning achievement, there's no doubt about that," admits McAuley, who has been a mainstay of Michael O'Neill's back-line.
"The desire to do that is very strong. It's within touching distance now and if for any reason we didn't make it, I think I'd be in a pretty dark place for a while.
"The positive thing is that it's in our hands, we know what we need to do.
"Getting there is the key, it would mean so much to so many people, we would probably take half the country to France! It would be something to experience, it would be amazing."
If Northern Ireland make it – and they will get a second bite of the cherry in Finland on Sunday should things not go to plan against the Greeks – it would be fair to say part of their success has been crafted on the Albion training ground.
With Jonny Evans having joined McAuley and fellow international team-mate Chris Brunt, the Baggies boast three-quarters of O'Neill's first-choice back-line.
And there is another familiar face in the squad in the shape of former Albion man Chris Baird. It is, McAuley admits, slightly surreal.
He said: "The more I think about it, the weirder it gets! As a defensive unit, there are a lot of good things that we do with the gaffer here (at Albion) that we can translate into international football as well.
"Getting to work with Jonny here in training and in games, that can only help the country in the two massive games that are coming up."
Momentous though the next few days might prove to be, McAuley insists his chief focus remains Albion.
A mainstay of the back four since joining from Ipswich on a free transfer in 2011 he admits making more than 100 Premier League appearances was something 'beyond his wildest dreams' back then.
The signings of Evans and James Chester might have indicated an intention from boss Tony Pulis to freshen up the defence.
But McAuley, in his fifth season at the Hawthorns, is once again proving age is just a number.
He said: "You get past 30 and people suddenly take a lot more interest in your age. I haven't changed the way I prepare that much.
"Certainly I like to train every day. If I wasn't doing that, I'd feel like I was cheating myself and cheating the lads.
"A big part of things for me is not letting then down, that is a driving force and if I can carry on doing that, I will.
"The important thing is I've still got the same desire and hunger to play in the Premier League as I had when I was in the lower divisions and trying to make the breakthrough.
"It's the place to be. I'm not naïve enough to think it's going to go on forever but while I'm here, I'm going to do my utmost to prolong it and do my best for the team."
