Midfielder Willie Boland has announced his decision to retire from football after 14 months out with a knee injury.
Boland went off injured during Pools defeat to Stockport last August and had struggled to recover from his injury.
Boland joined Pools from Cardiff City in 2006 and played a major part in Pools promotion from League Two, he then played a key role as Pools consolidated their place in League One the following season.
The Irishman admitted after so long on the sidelines it would have been tough for him to return to playing ”It was very difficult to come to this decision but to be honest, I’ve been out for over a year so I’ve got used to not playing in that time.” he told the official website.
”I just felt in myself that my knee was never going to be the same again and if I did get back I wouldn’t be able to do myself justice.”
The former Coventry man won fans over with his tough tackling style and he thanked them for sticking with him during his time on the sidelines as well as the medical team at the club ”I’d like to thank James Haycock and the medical team at the Club because I’ve worked closely with them over the last year or so.
”They put a lot of time and effort in to try and help me get back – we got close to doing it too but I just couldn’t get to where I wanted to be. I’d also like to thank the fans for their backing during my time injured; they stayed really behind me and I’m appreciative of that.”
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Good luck Willie, top player!
I am desperately sad about this. I didn’t really appreciate Willie’s influence on the team when I first saw him – but I learned! A truly great player whose time with us was too often and too long disrupted by injury. Those who have followed the “Don’t give up on Willie Boland” thread will know that I was eagerly hoping for his return to add further steel to our midfield. It wasn’t to be. Good luck for the future, Willie, whichever way the wind blows for you.