The former England captain retired from the game last summer, but has not lost the edge in front of goal that helped him score 18 times in 35 games for the Three Lions at the old Wembley.

Shearer joined up with a team of 'John Terrys' for the launch of The FA Umbro Fives and as he watched on, he couldn't resist applying the final touch when the ball dropped kindly two yards out.

"You've just set up Alan Shearer!" cried one of the namesakes of the current England captain.

And Shearer's trademark one armed-salute that followed proved he still has an appetite for the game.

"The only football I play now is five-a-side with my mates each week. It's a great laugh," said the former Newcastle United striker.

"If you asked any professional footballer what he wants to do in training, he'd always say he'd like to have a game of five-a-side. You can just go out and play and you all get a lot of touches and lot of shots at goal. It's a great way to play the game."

With a Finals place at Wembley on offer, over 5,000 teams are expected to take part in The FA Umbro Fives including Manchester-based 'Lovely Stuff' who won the chance to play on the Wembley turf at the launch.

"We play together regularly anyway, so will probably put a team into one of the regional qualifiers," said Ashley Maksym who entered the competition in Manchester's Metro Newspaper.

"We actually thought today was part of the competition, but to play here at Wembley with Alan Shearer was amazing."

Mike Browning, winner in a London Metro competition, made up the day's other team. He and his son Stephen are weekly five-a-siders at Lingfield Notre Dame school and brought three other friends for the trip to Wembley.

Shearer added: "It's great for people like that to be able to do that, to be able to go out and be one of the first on the pitch it's a great joy for them."

Sir Trevor Brooking, The FA's Director of Football Development issued a message of encouragement to any potential entrants to the competition: Anyone could play at the Wembley Finals.

"At the old Wembley it was a very rare occasion if anybody was actually allowed on the pitch, so The FA Umbro Fives giving the chance to come here and play is very unique.

"At whatever level of skill you're at, if you take part in the competition you could end up playing here.

"There are going to be eight 'lucky losers' in addition to the final 32 at Wembley, so it keeps it open for everyone to know that they could come and play at Wembley and sample this unique atmosphere."

And Shearer believes that that atmosphere is something that will certainly remain from the old 'Venue of Legends'.

"It's the first time I've been to the new Stadium and I was very impressed," said the 63-cap England hero.

"I have to say I was secretly delighted when the old place came down with the record that I had here, but walking in here for the first time is spectacular.

He added: "Wembley always has something about it and you walk in, well I did anyway, and still got a feeling for the place even though it's brand new. I very much doubt there are many better.

"It really is magnificent and fingers crossed it will bring a lot of joy to a lot of people."

If you want to have the chance to compete at Wembley in The FA Umbro Fives Finals, you'll need to enter a team. To find out more out the tournament and where your local heats will be held, click here...