FORMER Macclesfield Town defender Tony Barras has revealed his heartache at having to retire from football.
A recurrent hip problem forced the Billingham-born player to call time on a 17-year career in the game this month after being given a stark choice of a third operation - and long-term health implications - or hanging up his boots.
The 34-year-old, who scored two goals in 40 appearances for the Silkmen, opted for the latter, although he admits he is missing football already.
"I don't really know what to do with myself in the mornings," said the reliable centre-back. "I really miss not being with the lads in training and in the dressing room, and just kicking a ball about.
"I'm gutted and it's hard to adapt to doing something different. But I didn't really have much choice. The specialist said I can have another operation which would have got me to the end of the season, but he said I could be struggling in years to come."
Barras clocked up 575 appearances for nine different clubs since he started his career with Hartlepool in 1989, including spells at Stockport, York, Walsall and Notts County.
But he has been blighted by the hip problem since his York days, where he first went under the surgeon's knife in 1996. The North-east stalwart, then with Walsall, needed a second operation in 2003 and it was the same injury that he aggravated in training in November.
The veteran defender, who was transfer-listed by Town manager Brian Horton back in October, has no plans to pursue a career in football.
He added: "I always said to my family and friends that if I wasn't playing I wouldn't stay in the game.
"I had hoped to become a driving instructor but the specialist has advised against that as it would aggravated the injury further."
