Glenavon's Andrew Waterworth announces playing retirement
Glenavon striker Andrew Waterworth has announced his retirement from playing football at the age of 36.
Waterworth linked up with the Mourneview Park club last summer from Linfield.
However his time in Lurgan was curtailed by long covid and work commitments.
Waterworth, speaking to Glenavon's website, said he knew last season balancing his commitments was going to be difficult.
“Firstly, I knew halfway through the season last year that with my new job and work commitments that it just wasn’t viable to fully commit to the club.
“If I couldn’t give 100% then I was doing myself short and I was leaving the club short too because I wasn’t giving them everything, which didn’t sit well with me.
“I tried to hold out until the end of the year because I didn’t want to leave the club or the manager a player short during through the season, which would have left them with little cover."
He added he wanted to thank the Lurgan Blues.
“I genuinely want to thank the club and my teammates. It was a great changing room and I’ve met friends there for life.
“The Glenavon fans were good to me, even though performances were below par. I can remember one particular occasion where they gave me a good reception away to Larne and I hadn’t been playing well.
“I’m disappointed I couldn’t contribute more on the pitch, but an opportunity came up in my own professional career that I couldn’t turn down and it meant that I just had to give that my all.”
Glenavon manager Gary Hamilton paid tribute to Waterworth's "attitude and influence in the changing room" despite scoring only three goals for the club in his 24 appearances.
"I'd like to thank Andy for his professionalism," Hamilton said.
"It was a disappointment for both of us because we were looking to get Andy at his best but unfortunately he got Covid at the start of the season, which turned into Long Covid.
"He also got a promotion in his job, meaning he was away for weekends with the Northern Ireland U17s and U19s, which hampered him as well.
"Through it all he was also looking after his mum who was sick and unfortunately passed away during that period, so it was one of those bad years for Andy in every aspect of life. In terms of his career with us, it just wasn't to be."