Defensive general Kyle May announced his intention to hang up his boots at the end of this season, following Workington Reds’ gritty 1-0 victory over Marine on Saturday. 

The Reds stalwart said he felt it was the right time to end his playing career and indicated he would love to go out on a high with the club that has been his home for over 10 years. 

“I’ve had a good time at the Reds over the last 12 years but at the end of the season I will be retiring,” said May. 

“There always comes a time when you’ve got to retire and this is the right time for me and my life and career. 

“I can’t thank everyone at the club enough for what they have done for me and how much I have enjoyed it over the past 12 seasons.” 

He added: “It is nothing to do with the way I’m playing or how my body feels it’s just to do with a stage of my life where other priorities take over.” 

And May said he wanted to go out on a high and promotion would be the perfect ending for the Reds star, who broke the record last season for the most appearances in a Workington shirt.

“I would love that, it would be the perfect way to say goodbye,” said May. “I started off here by getting promotion and I would love to finish this season by getting promoted, fingers crossed and hopefully we can achieve something. 

“I wanted to go out on a really good season. At the minute it’s going well so I just want to finish it off and hopefully we can finish it on a real high for Workington and myself.” 

Reds’ victory over Marine saw them close in on league leaders Blyth, with now just two points separating the sides. 

The clash was only one of two to go ahead in the Evo-Stik premier league due to weather at the weekend but boss Derek Townsley was pleased to have the points in the bag. 

He said: “Yet again the lads, to their credit, rolled their sleeves up and they dug in.

“I think again the weather dictated a lot of the play, certainly it was a game of two halves with the strong wind but we were pleased to get over the finish line. 

“It wasn’t a great performance but it is still three points nonetheless.”