VERY few footballers can say they’ve got an international cap and even fewer can boast they’ve played alongside someone as legendary as Robert Lewandowski – but Wombwell Town ‘keeper Seb Malkowski certainly can.

The 38-year-old is currently plying his trade for Karl Rose’s side in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.

But whilst playing for Lechia Gdansk – one of Poland’s most iconic sides – he received a call up to play football internationally under Franciszek Smuda.

And on Mach 25, 2011, Malkowski earned his solitary Poland cap in a 2-0 loss against Lithuania.

That Polish side included Kamil Glik who played more than 100 times for The Eagles and Monaco, Jakub Błaszczykowski whose career spanned two decades and saw him play 200 times for German giants Borussia Dortmund, and full-back Łukasz Piszczek who had a legendary career in the Bundesliga.

And starting up top for Poland was a 22-year-old Robert Lewandowski who has just signed for Dortmund and would go on to score more than 300 goals for Bayern Munich and who’s currently playing for one of the biggest teams in the world, Barcelona.

It’s a far cry from the ninth tier of English football but no one will be able to take that experience away from Seb.

He told the Chronicle: “I was a Lechia Gdańsk player when I got the call-up.

“I remember that we returned from our pre-season camp and while we were sitting on the bus heading home the national team call-ups were announced.

“I was very surprised but it was nice to know that all my hard work and good performances hadn’t been wasted.”

But what was it like to play with players of such incredible stature, even if they were at the start of their careers?

“To this day I’m so proud that I have been able to train with all of these players and also to have played with them in the match,” he added.

“It was wonderful and it’s a memory that’s going to stay with me forever.

“Lewandowski’s football was at a completely different level.

“Every one of the players that was there at the time were top players from big European clubs.

“It was a really great experience.

“My shirt from the Polish national team still hands in the Lechia Gdansk stadium.”

After leaving Gdansk in 2014 he moved to another two Polish teams before heading over to Frickley Athletic who were managed at the time by current Wombwell Town manager Karl Rose.

The two sides played each other on Saturday but Malkowski was unable to play after being sent off last week.

But this spell at Wombwell isn’t his first in Barnsley – in fact it’s his third.

He played three matches for the side in May 2018 and another in January 2019.

But after leaving Worksop Town – who are managed by Darfield man Craig Parry – earlier this year following a four-year spell he returned to Wombwell.

And he says he’s proud to live and play in the town.

He added: “I live near Wombwell and I’m really proud to play here.

“I’m happy here and I’m really grateful that they trust me.”

But what’s his favourite thing about living in the town?

“My favourite place in Wombwell is the stadium,” he said.

“During the season I’m on a diet and I try not to drink.

“The only exception to that is having a beer or two after the match with the team and the fans.”