Anthony Wright admitted his decision to retire after 13 seasons with Workington Reds was not an easy one to make.

The long-serving midfielder hung up his boots after Saturday’s final game of the season against Ashton United at Borough Park.

Wright said he was going to miss everyone connected with the club – but that his family now had to come first.

The dad-of-three made his decision just after Christmas when a hectic work and footballing schedule left him little time at home.

“I decided just after Christmas,” he explained. “I have three young boys and it is hard being away from the family so much, especially with working shifts.

“I think sometimes people don’t appreciate how hard it is for players to make themselves available for every game.

“I think through Christmas I had one day where I was off, where I wasn’t at football or at work and with kids it’s hard to be away that much.

“But it’s a decision that didn’t come easily, after being here for 13 years it’s really going to be a struggle to get used to not training Tuesday, Thursday and then Saturday games, so yeah, I am really going to miss it.

“But my family comes first now, they’ve sacrificed a lot for me over the years so it’s about time.”

Wright made his 489th appearance in a Reds shirt on Saturday, and he admitted it could have been more if it was not for a spate of injuries.

He said: “I came here as a young boy and didn’t play that much to start off with.

“I had a season away at Penrith and in America, then came back came here for my first proper season and I really enjoyed it and I played a lot.

“I wouldn’t think that 13 years down the line I’d still be here. I’m quite proud of myself really to have stayed at this club for so long.

“I’ve played 489 games but it probably could have been a lot more than that apart from the amount of injuries I’ve had over the last four or five seasons.

“But I’ve been lucky in another way that I’ve had injuries that I could always come back from where lads I’ve played with have never been able to play again because of injuries.

“I’m thankful it’s just been little injuries here and there which are all part and parcel of playing football.”

Wright hails from a footballing family with his father Billy having played for Everton, Birmingham City and Carlisle United.

But he says he never felt any pressure to follow in his footsteps.

“You’d expect with him being a footballer he would push me into football but it was never a case of pushing us in, we all chose to play,” added Wright.

Looking back on his career, Wright says it is difficult to pick out his favourite matches or the best players he has taken to the field with.

“My first game, in my first full season stands out, against Kettering at home. I scored early on in the game and that season was a really good one for me.

“I couldn’t single out any particular performances, but obviously our cup game against Wimbledon and this year with the cup run we’ve had, were good.

“And I can’t single out a player as I have played with a lot of good players.

“With the players that come and go at this club there are some really good ones.

“I’ve made a lot of friends here and I’m going to miss them but away from football we will probably spend some time together.”

Wright admitted he was disappointed not to have helped Reds to the play-offs in his final season but says the injury list was just too much for a small squad.

“I had it in my head we would do it this year and we would get in the play-offs but injuries to a lot of players affected us,” said Wright.

“The boys have done fantastic really, many playing with big injuries and problems, so all credit to them. And just to get a team out on the pitch Dabba (Dave Hewson) and Bones (Lee Andrews) have done well.

“I did think this year would be a great year for us and we would get in the play-offs but it can’t be helped with that many injuries in a small squad.”

And the secret of his long stay at Workington, and the good form the squad has had over recent years?

Wright claims it is all down to the camaraderie in the dressing room.

“Being based out here you’re not attracting many players from elsewhere and the two or three lads that you will get in during the season from elsewhere are always made welcome because it is such a tight-knit group of lads,” he said.

“I’ve played with some of these lads for eight/nine years and you love working hard for your team-mates because you know exactly what they are going to give you out on that pitch – and I think that’s the Workington way.”