FORMER Colchester United favourite Greg Halford has announced his retirement from playing at the age of 40.
The U’s 2006 promotion winner, who helped the club achieve their highest-ever finish in the 2006/07 season when they finished tenth in the Championship, is hanging up his boots following a superb career which has seen him clock up more than 600 professional games.
Halford, who is currently coaching in the Middlesbrough academy, came through the youth ranks at Colchester.
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Having started as a trainee at Layer Road, the Chelmsford-born player was handed his U’s debut by Parkinson in 2003 and went on to become a firm favourite in North Essex.
The England under-20 international caught the eye for the U's with a string of dazzling performances under Phil Parkinson and then, Geraint Williams.
Halford clocked up 165 league and cup appearances for Colchester but eventually left to move to then Premier League side Reading for £2.5m, in the summer of 2007.
From making my first team debut for @ColU_Official at 17 going on to play over 600 professional games and playing my last ever game at 40 I'm hanging my boots up. Football is all I've known and what I always wanted to do. pic.twitter.com/WEZVCdxSqV
— Greg Halford (@GregHalford15) September 9, 2025
It is still the highest fee the U’s have ever received for one of their players.
He went on to play for the likes of Sunderland, Charlton Athletic, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Rotherham United and Cardiff City.
Writing on social media, Halford said: ‘From making my first team debut for @ColU_Official at 17 going on to play over 600 professional games and playing my last ever game at 40 I'm hanging my boots up. Football is all I've known and what I always wanted to do.
‘It's given me opportunities I never thought I could get. Met some amazing people and played for some amazing clubs. I owe everything to football. My playing time has come to an end. It's time to look forward and create a new chapter in my life and for my family.
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‘Thank you to everyone who has been there for me and helped me to become the player I was and the man I am today. Every member of staff that I've worked with and all the amazing fans I've met and played in front off. Thank you so so so much. U don't know what it means to me.
‘It's been an absolute roller coaster but I wouldn't change anything. Now it's time to give back to the game that gave me everything starting with the u15s and 16s @Boro who have given me my first opportunity in coaching. Thank you so much everyone.
‘Greg #15’
