old stager 
noun
A very experienced or long-serving person: the changes aroused the hostility of the old stagers...
- And even though South Africa 2003 looms as their swansong, it's not unreasonable to expect that the old stagers might just dust off their match-winning routines one more time.
- It's hard to say which of the two old stagers leading the nation's major parties will benefit from it but there's been a real far-out retro 70s feel to the past few weeks of political discussion.
- It's not just a bunch of old stagers chuntering away, talking gibberish about silly points and fine legs, and eating cake (though it is unashamedly all of these).