Stonebridge forced to retire
Wycombe striker Ian Stonebridge has announced his retirement from football.
Wycombe striker Ian Stonebridge has announced his retirement from football at the age of 25.Stonebridge has struggled with injuries over the past couple of seasons and has been restricted to just three starts for Wycombe this term.
Doctors have now diagnosed Stonebridge with reactive arthropathy, a condition which causes pain and swelling of the joints, and he has been left with little option but to call time on his career.
"It's a hard decision to take but for my future health it's one I have to make at this time," he told the club's official website.
"I'm retiring on the advice of the specialist I've seen frequently throughout the course of this season."
Assistant manager Steve Brown paid tribute to Stonebridge, who was brought to the club by Tony Adams in 2004 and went on to make 80 appearances.
"It's a great disappointment because Stoney was such a wonderful talent," said Brown.
"What people forgot was that he was still so young. He hasn't even scratched the surface of his career and to see it ended by injury is a real shame."
