Dave Beasant has revealed how the R word has played a key role in prolonging his career.

It's not relegation, the dreaded R word for Albion, but rest and relaxation which explains why Beasant is still going strong at the age of 43.

The keeper, signed by the Seagulls for the rest of the season from Wigan, has no intention of hanging up his gloves just yet.

Beasant, more accustomed to cup finals and promotions than scraps for survival during a glittering 24-year career, said: "I will go on as long as I feel I can match the standard I've set for myself.

"This season I feel fine. I work hard in training because if I let myself down there I wouldn't be able to do it in games.

"The game has moved on. You have to keep up your standard and fitness level. I've managed to do so up until now.

"You set yourself targets in your career. When I was in the Fourth Division I wanted to play in the First Division and when you are in the First you want to win a Cup final and play for England.

"I have managed to achieve a lot of my targets. People were saying could I get to retirement age, which was more or less regarded then as 35.

"Season after season, as long as I feel fine, I will keep going. Football has changed, especially in the last ten years. People have begun to look after themselves more and I am one of those.

"I am not an angel by any means. I am one of the old school in that I will still have a beer when I can have a beer, but there are times now when you can't hammer your body. You have to look after it and that's what I try to do.

"I rest more after a game. I can't afford to be going out playing a game of golf and running around the shops. I go off the training field, into the car, get home and put my feet up. That's the way I lead my life now."

Beasant topped Steve Coppell's list when the Albion boss was shopping around to cover a gaping hole, created by injury to Michel Kuipers and the illness which laid low the Dutchman's on-loan replacement from Charlton Ben Roberts.

Coppell instantly experienced Beasant's enthusiastic dedication to duty. The day after keeping a clean sheet for Wigan's reserves against Rochdale he was throwing himself around in his first training session with Albion, having driven most of the length of the country back home to Denham, near Heathrow.

Coppell said: "When we started it was beautiful, then the snow came down. He was diving all over the place. He made a couple of good saves in the shooting session we had, so he had instant respect from the other players.

"I know Dave from way back. I am not close to him by any means, but I know by reputation and mutual acquaintance that he is just a good pro.

"He is probably a better pro now than he was when he was younger because he has to look after himself more."

Beasant made a couple of good stops on his debut in last Saturday's unfortunate 1-0 defeat at Walsall.

Against Wimbledon at Withdean on Tuesday he rolled back the years by saving a second half penalty taken by former Southampton and Nottingham Forest team-mate Neil Shipperley.

Beasant's greatest claim to fame, of course, was keeping out John Aldridge's spot-kick as the Dons upset Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final at Wembley.

He is just happy to be back in first team contention after only one start in three months at Wigan understudying John Filan.

"I went to Bradford before that on a month to month contract and just played a couple of reserve games," he said.

"I started to find it a bit of a problem, not in terms of ability but people just thinking it would be a bit of a decision to put a 43-year-old in front of a 25-year-old at our club.

"I've found that a hinderance, the fact that I've got 1959 on my birth certificate!"

There cannot be too many clubs with a goalkeeper older than the goalkeeping coach, but Beasant believes the trend towards the role occupied at Albion by former No.1 John Keeley benefits longevity.

"It helps now that most clubs have got some form of goalkeeping coach," he said. "You are working specifically on goalkeeping work, which I think has aided us.

"I feel that will prolong your career, because you are doing specific exercises and stretches."

Coaching is where Beasant's long-term future lies once his playing days are over. He has already been helped along the way by a former Albion manager and his assistant.

"I did my coaching badge at Wimbledon the year before the Cup, so I am fully qualified," Beasant explained. "Now that more clubs have got goalkeeping coaches then in the future that is the way I see myself going.

"When I was at Nottingham Forest I was training two days a week in London.

Micky Adams and Alan Cork were at Brentford and then Fulham and they asked me to work with the goalkeepers, so I have used my coaching skills even though I am still playing and training hard.

"I've known Micky from Southampton where we played together and, of course, Corky at Wimbledon. I've played against Steve Coppell as well a couple of times. I've seen most faces in football nowadays."

Now Beasant is back down south again after 27 appearances for Portsmouth last term, trying to avoid that unwanted R word.

"It's strange how it seems to go around that I've played on the south coast," he said. "It's a nice neck of the woods and hopefully Brighton will be in the First Division next season."