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That's the day I called time on a senior playing career that lasted over 20 years. It was a hard decision to retire as football had been such a big part of my life for so long. As you all know I'm not leaving football and am really looking forward to working as a coach.

To be honest I think other people were making more of my last match than I was. Maybe I wasn't as emotional as folk thought I would be. The way I looked at it every player has to stop sometime and better players than me have retired in the past and will in the future. I must say though it was a fantastic gesture from Linfield to give me and my nephew a guard of honour specially as it was their big day to get the Gibson Cup. I have to thank both sets of fans for the welcome and ovation they gave me, it was brilliant and, as I would expect from the best fans in the League, the way the minutes silence for Alain Emerson's wife was respected was superb. It was just a pity we couldn't have finished with a victory and was particularly disappointing as Linfield had virtually a reserve side on the park.


1st Division League Cup	Steel & Sons Cup

"Celebrating" the 1st Division Title	Guard of Honour at Windsor

Right we all know where it finished but for those of you who don't know, I have been asked to say a few words about where it began. As a fresh faced 16 year old I signed for Barn Utd. in 1984 and would you believe it my first game was to come on as sub in a friendly against Linfield at left back, yes left back! That day I had to mark Billy Murray and let's just say I am glad in the future I was to play with him rather than against him. In 1985 I played summer league football in Rathcoole with a certain skinny goalkeeper called Roy McDonald. He asked me to sign for Crusaders Reserves that he was looking after at the time. I played a full season there and won reserve team player of the year. (Crues folk always have been a good judge of talent). 1986 saw a rule change and to cut a long story short I ended up back at Barn Utd. until January 1987 when I signed for Linfield.

My Linfield debut was in a cup competition against Carrick which we won 5-1. I kept my place for the next match where I scored the winner against Crusaders (sorry folks). The next week I scored again against Ballymena and I'm starting to think this Irish League football is a piece of cake and maybe I should be playing up front. So started and 11 year spell with the Blues with highs and lows being a few serious injuries which hampered my career a bit.

I was asked about players I have played for and against. As for colleagues it is very herd to single out folk as there have been so many good ones but if you twist my arm 3 great players I played with stand out for me and they were Martin McGaughy, Alan Dornan and Lee Doherty. They could play a bit ! Opponents, yes there have been good ones there too. Billy Caskey was always a strong physical guy and Vinnie Arkins always made for a busy afternoon. Oh and there was a certain Stephen Baxter who was always a handful. (I think he was one of the few players to chalk his elbows before going onto the field).

The highlights of my playing days would probably be playing in Europe, always a fantastic experience. Winning 4 trophies with Linfield in 1994 and what a season the Crues had in the 1st division lifting 3 trophies and getting back to our rightful place among the big boys. I have been proud to have captained every club I played for. Biggest disappointments would be losing, injuries relegation and not getting to lift a senior trophy with Crusaders.

As they say when one door closes another opens as I look forward to what hopefully will be a long coaching career. I will, as you all know, be taking over the reserve team and have to thank Philip Mitchell on the great job he did last year. He has left behind some exciting young players. As I have never managed before, who knows if it will be successful but I can assure you the results good or bad will not be down to any lack of effort. As a club with no pot of gold we can't afford simply to bring in loads of players so we rely on bringing young players through the ranks. We can see by the examples of say Colin Coates and Chris Morrow what can be achieved and I hope to play my part in developing the next generation of Crues stars. The hunger I had to win as a player is still there and I hope to lead the reserves to more success in the future.

Can I take this opportunity to thank everyone at Crusaders Football Club for making me feel really welcome. It has been an honour and a privilege to represent, play for, captain and now coach in the fantastic club.

Many thanks to Jeff for taking the time out of his hectic DIY schedule to talk to us. I will finish of this little piece by giving a list of his achievements (so far !!)

3 - League Championships: 2 - Irish Cups; 3 League Cups; 1 - Ulster Cup; 1 - TNT Cup; 1 - Shield Winner; 1 - 1st Division Championship; 1 - Carnegie 1st Division League Cup; 2 - Steel & Sons Cups; 1 - Mid Ulster Cup; 3 Irish League Player Of The Month; 1 - B Division Representative; Umbro Special Merit; Irish League Special Merit (think we can add a couple of darts tournaments)

Junior Team Manager; UEFA B License Award; UEFA A License part 1 Award; UEFA A License part 2 Award; UEFA Pro License (starting Sept 07)