FORMER Colchester United promotion winner Billy Clarke is hanging up his boots.

The 33-year-old forward, who played his part in the U's 2005-06 promotion from League One while on loan from Ipswich Town, has announced his retirement from professional football.

Clarke is now about to embark on a coaching career, after calling time on his playing days.

Writing on Twitter, he said: 'It’s a wrap!! Thank you to everyone who has helped me fulfil my dream. Thank you to all the clubs who have let me play for them. One chapter closes and another one begins. Can’t wait to start my coaching career. Thanks again, Billy'

 

After emerging from the Ipswich Town academy, Clarke was signed on loan by Phil Parkinson in March 2006.

He played six games for the U's that season, helping them secure a historic promotion to the Championship.

Clarke went on to have an impressive career, making nearly 50 league appearances for Ipswich before leaving them to join Blackpool in the summer of 2009.

He played against Colchester on the opening day of the last League Two season and his final game was as a substitute for Bradford in their final game of the last campaign, at Morecambe.

Gazette:

He made more than 100 appearances for the Tangerines before joining Crawley Town, in January 2012.

Clarke went on to have three separate spells at Bradford City and also represented the likes of Charlton Athletic, Plymouth Argyle and Grimsby Town, in the latter years of his professional career.