Kevin Graham keeps his eyes firmly on the ball while Guernsey teammate Joby Bourgaize leaps to head it away during last night’s Muratti warm-up against England Universities at Blanche Pierre Lane. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0568646)
KEVIN GRAHAM has said that next month’s Muratti will be his swansong.
The 29-year-old St Martin’s captain and dominating centre half has decided to hang up his boots due to injuries and as he looks to start a family. He said yesterday that if selected for Guernsey in the big match on Monday 5 May in Jersey, it will be his last.
‘I’m definitely packing it in,’ he said. ‘It’s for various reasons, but injuries have played a big part. I just want to be able to walk on my own two legs in 10 years’ time. I’ve also got a kid on the way.’
After playing for a number for years in non-league football in the UK with the likes of Whitby Town, Graham came back to Priaulx football at the start of the 2006-07 season.
However, his return to action was delayed for a year after he broke his leg.
Recurring ankle and knee injuries have plagued him since he stepped onto the pitch again.
‘I played at a high level in the UK for a long time and when I came back I said I would have only two seasons,’ he said.
Graham is very critical of the domestic game in the island.
He says he would have been tempted to carry on if Guernsey had entered a team into the non-league structure as has been suggested in the past.
‘It’s hard to get going week in, week out in what is a very stale league,’ he said.
‘If there was something else around the corner, it would be a different kettle of fish. I would consider staying on.’
St Martin’s coach Colin Fallaize believes his star player is making a mistake and is naturally disappointed.
‘I think it’s a bit premature and obviously he’s bound to be missed,’ he said.
‘He’s a good player but that’s the way it goes. I’ll just have to use one of the Jackson players.
‘It will be disappointing, but people make up their own mind and you have to respect people’s decisions.’
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