Port Vale goalkeeper Mark Goodlad has been forced to retire from football.
Vale keeper forced to call time on career
Port Vale goalkeeper Mark Goodlad has been forced to retire from football.
The Vale Park number one suffered a ruptured Achilles in the opening minutes of the 2-1 defeat by Bristol City at Ashton Gate just over 12 months ago.
He has been battling to work his way back to full fitness ever since, but has finally admitted defeat in his quest.
Goodlad discovered that if he wanted to return to playing, he would require further surgery which carried the risk he would be left in a wheelchair.
Difficult
He told the club's
official website: "It has been a very difficult decision to make. I have played football ever since I left school and that's all I've ever known.
"But I have spoken to people close to me, my family and my friends, and ultimately I have had to make a hard decision, but I think it is for the best.
"I played in a couple of reserve games, but I was always struggling to get my spring. I have never really got that back, so I tried to work harder on that in training, but when I went for the MRI scan it showed something in my Achilles which was causing the swelling whenever I trained to a high standard.
"I felt I was doing OK, then I was on the bench for a first-team game at Leeds a few weeks ago and went for the scan virtually straight after that. That was the last time I have done anything related to football.
"I could have another operation, but with it comes a risk and I don't want to take the risk that something could go wrong. I just want to enjoy the rest of my life and get on with things."
