DEFENDER Ashley Smith admitted injuries and family reasons both contributed to his decision to retire from football.

Full-back Smith is one of the most respected players on the Dorset scene, having achieved back-to-back Wessex League titles in a nine-year spell at Portland United.

He then joined Dorchester Sports in the Dorset Premier League before hanging up his boots.

His senior career followed a high-calibre grounding at youth level, which included spells at Bournemouth, Southampton and a trial at Bristol City.

Explaining his decision to quit playing, Smith told Echosport: “Certainly in the last couple of years, the reason I played for Sports was that I’ve got twins.

“I could only play every other weekend – that’s where the injuries started to come in. You don’t train as often.

“I know I’m not old but there were old injuries opening up. My hamstring is literally knackered.

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“I just weighed up my options. I’ve played football since I was five, so I haven’t really done anything else. I just wanted to do something else.”

Sports’ boss Ashley James paid credit to Smith.

“He’s been a top lad for us and a great player,” he said.

“He’s done really well wherever he’s been. It’s a massive shame to lose Ash but it’s the right thing for him to do.

“For the club and me it’s a massive loss. We wish him all the best.

“He was probably the first signing who gave us a chance of going to the next level.

“I think if Ash hadn’t have come a couple more wouldn’t have thought about coming. He gave us a chance.

“Although he could only play every other week he was fantastic.”

Asked for a career highlight, Smith looked no further than Portland.

“When we won the league in the 95th minute, that made history for the first team to win both leagues two years in a row,” he said.

“The lads that played at Portland – we played together for eight, nine years – it was a squad of best mates that had achieved something amazing on no budget.

“All through the seasons we were in the Wessex League, every single side was banging on about how much we were being paid.

“Literally, we got paid with sausage and chips. That’s how it was.

“The last few years, I’ve enjoyed the challenge with Sports. It’s difficult to put it all in perspective. So much has happened over the years.

“Thanks to the boys and the management teams at Portland and Dorch Sports.”

Touching on his youth career, Smith added: “It didn’t work out because I didn’t have the physique to be at that level.

“Bournemouth was working out and I was doing well there but I fell out with the manager.

“When I left, I signed for Southampton. At the time I signed I actually lived eight miles outside of the catchment area. That was null and void.

“The reason I got to Bristol City was ex-Weymouth player Matty Hale.

“He did a football camp and the best players all went to an actual trial, which we did.

“I got into the squad and we played a two-day national tournament at Bisham Abbey.

“I did really, really well but broke my ankle and effectively got released. That’s kind of when I started to look more at local football.

“And I was at the age where other stuff was more interesting! I don’t regret any of it.

“The experiences I’ve been able to have, I’ve been very lucky.”