Whitstable Town and former Ramsgate striker Stuart Vahid retires from playing due to long-term knee injury
by Alex
Hoad
Striker Stuart Vahid said his only
wish upon announcing his retirement was that he could have enjoyed
more success with Whitstable.
The 32-year-old quit the game this
week due to a degenerative knee problem brought on by a serious
cruciate ligament injury sustained playing for Ramsgate in the FA
Vase quarter-final in 2000.
Vahid scored 44 goals in 130
appearances for the Oystermen in two spells after first joining in
2009.
During a 16-year career, he had
three stints at Ramsgate, where he made his first appearance
and short stays at Deal, Sittingbourne and Chatham.
Talking about his knee, Vahid said:
"It’s had a lot of wear and tear since the injury and taken a lot
of punishment.
"It’s aching and swelling up after
training and games and I work as a bricklayer, so I’m on my feet
all day. I decided it was time to call it a day.
"I’ve got two girls aged eight and
four and it will be nice to spend some more time with them.
"I made my first-team debut at 16
and ever since then I’ve been out at training and playing a couple
of times a week.
"I have to say it was nice to stay
in the warm with the family instead of going training on Tuesday
night."
He added: "I won the Kent League at
Ramsgate which is one of my best memories. I just wish I’d had more
success like that with Whitstable. They definitely are the best
fans I’ve played for and I’ve enjoyed my time there."
Vahid said he was undecided’about
whether to accept an offer from Town boss Nicky Southall to coach
the forwards at The Belmont.
Do you think Vahid would
make a good coach? Have your say below.
17/01/13
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