Fan Parkhouse heading back to Stute

Striker Stephen Parkhouse feels he has made the right decision to hang up his boots.

The ex-Glentoran, Coleraine and Derry City man played his part in the Drumahoe club’s Championship One success last season, scoring eight goals.

The 32-year-old admitted it was a tough decision to call it a day.

“It really because I have never known anything else,” he said.

“I have either been pro or semi-pro since 16-years-old, so that’s half my life.

“My heart and head wanted me to carry on, but I have struggled with my hip and my knee has never been the same since I hurt it at Sligo Rovers five years ago.

“In fairness the surgeon told me that I would have a 50/50 chance of playing again, so I got another four years after that, so I can’t be too down about it.”

Parkhouse also wanted to be the one who made the decision and didn’t want to be one of those players who carried on playing just for the sake of it.

“I wasn’t happy with myself last year, but it was just a matter of helping the team along the way and play some part in getting Stute up, thankfully that happened.

“But I wanted to be the one who made the decision, because people playing on and wait until someone says to them to give it up, that’s a bit embarrassing.”

The Gobnascale man also confirmed that he will be a supporter next season.

“I’ll definitely be back at Stute next season,” he said.

“In fact Keeso (Paul Kee) was joking today about it that he had got my season ticket ready.

“But jokes aside I still have a lot of good friends who will be playing this season, so yeah I’ll be back at Drumahoe cheering them on.”