HUGELY experienced Glenafton Athletic shot stopper Brian McGarrity has been forced to hang up his gloves.

The goalie, who won the Scottish Junior Cup in 2017, has decided to call it a day after being sidelined following a serious knee injury early in the season.

In a statement, the club said: “This is devastating news for Brian, the club and its supporters. Everyone appreciates this has been a painful and emotional decision for Brian to make. We hope by way of consolation that Brian realises the huge impact he has made at the Glens, both on and off the park, and that he and his family will have happy memories to look back on.”

His finest season was 2016-17 when Glens won the treble of Scottish Junior Cup, West Region Premiership and Evening Times Champions’ Cup. Last season Brian added a first to his Glens record when he scored a late winner in a West of Scotland Cup tie with a kick from his own box catching his counterpart off his line. However, the season ended prematurely for him with injury forcing him to miss out in the last five games.

In his third game of this season injury struck again requiring Brian to be substituted at half-time at Beechwood Park. Sadly it seems his Glenafton career has come to a close where it began against Auchinleck Talbot.

In six full seasons with Glens, he made 196 appearances and scored one goal, add the three appearances for this season he falls one short of 200 appearances for Glens. Tribute has been paid to the goalie by Glens boss Craig McEwan,

He said: “I am distraught to be putting this out there as not only has Brian been an excellent servant to the Glens but I have made a friend.

“Do not be a stranger mate and I hope you are about the place to allow me to keep pestering you to return.”