Derry City midfielder Gareth McGlynn hangs up his boots.... after 11 seasons at Brandywell

Derry City midfielder has hung up his boots – after 11 seasons with the Brandywell club.

The 34-year-old announced his retirement from the game at a Derry City end of season event at the Bishop’s Gate Hotel on Saturday night, after a season which saw him plagued by injury.

The Donegal man started the first six games of the season under Kenny Shiels but suffered an injury at Dundalk on April 1 from which he never recovered.

The man from Inch believes it is the right time to step away from the game, and the club that he loves.

“I was thinking about it but the injury definitely sped it up,” he told the Derry News.

“The season has been a bit of a disaster. I played the first six games then that was me. The injury still isn’t 100% so I wouldn’t be 100% confident on it. I wouldn’t do it to the club, I wouldn’t do it to myself and I wouldn’t do it to the team. I don’t know if I was going to be offered a new deal,

“It was just so tough sitting watching this season, and going in every day to get treatment was so frustrating. The club, the staff and Kenny showed me great patience.

“I was constantly getting frustrated, but they just encouraged me. I just wouldn’t be confident going into next year, and I also have to start thinking about life after football.

“I’ve started the business now which has been going about three and a half months and I need to concentrate on that. Half doing it this year along with football was difficult. You need to be at it full time otherwise it will fail.”

McGlynn goes out with 357 appearances with Derry City behind him.

Breaking through towards the end of the 2000/01 season, the midfielder went on to win two FAI Cups and five League Cups with the Candy Stripes.

A brief spell with Bohemians in 2010 also added a Setanta Cup medal to his collection.

He was also a key member of the City squad which so nearly won the Premier Division title under Stephen Kenny in both 2005 and 2006, and also played his part in the UEFA Cup run against IFK Gothenburg, Gretna and Paris St. Germain.