Team-mates were quick to hail Shrewsbury Hockey Club stalwart Jon Davis after he brought the curtain down on his near 25-year first team career by helping the club avoid relegation.
Davis, 41, has opted to hang up his stick after hundreds of games for the Meole Brace club, the final one last weekend as he helped Shrewsbury overcome Evesham 3-1 to beat the drop in the West Midland League premier division.
Fellow veteran Lyndon Boyden, who has been playing for Shrewsbury even longer than Davis, said the club would miss his ability.
“I remember Jon’s first team debut very well,” said Boyden. “He was 17 and travelled all the way to Grantham and got on for the last five minutes as a sub.
“The big thing for me is he had big shoes to fill when Graham Moore retired but he took over the captaincy and led us into the Midlands premier division and to a fourth placed finish, our best ever in the pyramid.
“He was also an integral part of the side which won the HA Trophy in 1995.”
Shrewsbury vice-captain Anthony Hughes added Davis had been a terrific servant and that he was hoping he might change his mind and give it another go.
“Jon deserves our thanks for the years of service he has put in,” said Hughes. “Jon is most definitely the best player to come through this club in the last quarter of a century.
“His skills and commitment to the game, matched by a fantastic hockey brain, have been invaluable to the club. Young players need look no further than Jon if they want to know what they should be aiming for.
“My message to Jon is, when the stick starts calling you next season, you could always change your mind.”
By Stuart Dunn