Leaving Whitby was a tough decision. When I returned from my cruciate ligament injury Graeme Clark was the manager and was good to me as he had faith in me and gave me confidence. Clarkie put everything into the job he did at Whitby. Despite his loyalty I just didn’t feel like the same player.

At the end of the 2009 season Graeme left and Harry Dunn returned. Harry called me and told me he would like to retain me for the next season and gave me the dates for pre-season training. I wasn’t as confident in my ability and I decided to call Harry and tell him I think I would benefit dropping down a level. He told me the door would be open for a return which was nice.

I signed for Goole Town again but my heart wasn’t in it so I took a break from the game. I returned to playing sometime later for Tadcaster Albion in the North East Counties league. I was doing well at Tad. My confidence was growing and I was having some good games with my performances becoming more consistent.

We had some games up north and I bumped into some of the lads like Phil Brumwell, who was always good for a catch up and a pint after the game. I had spoke to Harry and we had a conversation about me returning, but unfortunately that would never happen. I jumped for a simple header not long after that conversation in a game and felt a pop. I knew I had torn my cruciate ligament in the same knee. A scan confirmed this and I was back under the surgeon’s knife. After two ACL reconstructions I decided to call it a day as commitments off the pitch mounted up.

These days, I spend a lot of my Saturdays watching Leeds United at Elland Road with my sons. Like many players when they finish, you miss the dressing room banter and the feeling of a good team performance followed by a victory. There is nothing like it.