AFC Bournemouth have one of the most exciting teams in the EFL at the moment, but that hasn't always been the case.

The Cherries have had their fair share of experienced heads over the years as the South Coast club provide a suitable opportunity for those in the autumn of their careers to make a big impact at a club that's going places.

Not to mention that these experienced heads do wonders for the young players who are making their way in the game.

The South Coast is renowned for being a place where retired people go to live it up by the coast, and after doing some research it seems that the same applies to those in the game of football.

We take a look at the club's top 10 oldest players to ever feature for the club.

The midfielder spent much of his career playing in Norway but did move to England where he joined Southampton.

Tessem spent six years with the Saints but ended up joining the Cherries in 2008 where he spent six months playing with the club as they battled relegation from League Two.

It was there that he made the appearance that would see him into the top 10 list.

Tessem was 36 years 01 month 08 days when he featured in the 2-1 away victory over Swansea City on April 5, 2008.

He clearly took a liking to life on the South Coast as he went on to feature for Eastleigh and Totton & Eling before retiring.

The Scotland international enjoyed a jam-packed career in the game.

Lengthy spells with Luton Town, Coventry City, Southampton and Celtic certainly occupied the prime years of Telfer's career with the player retiring after leaving the Bhoys in 2007.

However that retirement was sh0rt-lived after he changed his mind just three months later.

Telfer spent six months with Bournemouth in 2007 where he featured in the 3-1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers on Dec 8, 2007 at the age of 36 years 01 month 17 days.

He then retired once more before heading to Leeds United to extend his career further.

The striker is a hugely popular figure in the game, but most of all on the South Coast.

Having featured for the club in a loan spell earlier in his career it was a big move when he opted to join Bournemouth again after successful spells with the likes of West Ham United, Sunderland, Tottenham and Portsmouth.

That move to Bournemouth came in 2017 and saw him stay with the club for three years, including an 18-month loan with Rangers.

Defoe's last appearances for the Cherries was on Dec 19, 2018 when they lost 1-0 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The striker was 36 years 02 months 12 days when he made that appearances - an impressive feat considering he's still playing for Rangers now at 38 years of age.

The midfielder started his career with South Coast rivals Portsmouth before securing a big move to Tottenham Hotspur in 1992.

After 12 years in North London, Anderton had spells with Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers before heading back down South to join Bournemouth.

That move came in 2006 when the England international with Anderton spending over two years with the club before retiring from the game in December 2008.

His final appearance came on December 6, 2008 in a 1-0 victory over Chester City with Anderton aged 36 years 09 months 03 days at the time.

Since then the midfielder has been working as a pundit in Canada.

Another player who must surely be considered to be a Premier League legend.

Ian Harte enjoyed his best years playing for Leeds United during a time when the club were competing in the UEFA Cup and Champions League for the Yorkshire side.

Spells with Levante, Sunderland, Carlisle United and Reading followed before the full-back completed the last move of his career as he traveled to the South Coast.

Harte spent two years with Bournemouth and helped the club to secure promotion to the Premier League before announcing his retirement.

His final appearance came on January 25, 2015 against Aston Villa with the played aged 37 years 04 months 25 days.

The defender originally moved to England on loan with Newcastle United in 2001.

However much of his career in the Premier League was spent with Manchester City, Everton and Portsmouth between the years of 2002 and 2015.

The final move of his career came when Distin moved to Bournemouth that year where he spent one season before retiring in the summer of 2016.

His last appearance for the club came in a 3-1 away victory over Newcastle United Mar 5, 2016 with Distin aged 38 years 02 months 18 days - a significant age for a player who was still playing in the top flight almost 15 years after making his first appearance in the league.

The experienced goalkeeper is still playing despite being 41 years of age.

A large chunk of his career was spent in his native Poland, however Boruc also spent a long time playing in both England and Scotland.

Boruc spent five years with Scottish giants Celtic before moving to Italy to join Fiorentina in 2010.

After two years there the goalkeeper moved to England with Southampton where he spent three years before completing a permanent move to Bournemouth in 2015.

Boruc left the Cherries last year, however his final appearance was on Apr 27, 2019 in a 3-3 draw with Southampton, with the stopper aged 39 years 02 months 07 days.

The former midfielder started his career with Portsmouth before going on to play for a long list of clubs in England.

Claridge's career was winding down when he completed a move to Bournemouth in 2006 at the age of 40.

He only made one appearance for the Cherries as he played in the 4-0 defeat to Port Vale Dec 9, 2006 - a contest which he played at the age of 40 years 07 months 29 days.

But it wasn't just his age that made it memorable.

That contest with Port Vale was Claridge's 1000th competitive career appearances - quite a landmark I'm sure you'd agree.

After being born and starting his career with Hartlepool United, Fletcher enjoyed the bulk of his career on the South Coast.

He joined Bournemouth in 1992 and stayed there until 2007 in a 15-year spell at Dean Court.

After that he enjoyed spells with Chesterfield and Crawley Town before heading back to Bournemouth two years later in 2009.

In that spell he combined playing football with working as assistant coach for an extended spell, before reverting back to his primary role as a player.

His final appearance for the club came on Apr 27, 2013 in a 0-0 draw with Tranmere Rovers, a match that he played at the age of 40 years 09 months 01 day.

Bournemouth's oldest player to ever feature in a competitive game.

James enjoyed a cracking career having played for the likes of Watford, Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City, Portsmouth and Bristol City during a 24-year career until that point.

In 2012 James made the move to the Cherries in September where he spent six months before leaving the club by mutual consent in March 2013.

His final appearance for the club was on Jan 19, 2013 when he played in the 3-1 defeat at Walsall - a game which he played at the age of 42 years 05 months 18 days.