Former Rangers striker Martyn Waghorn has announced his retirement from football.
The front man arrived at Ibrox alongside former Wigan Athletic teammate James Tavernier. He got off to a perfect start, bagging a double on his debut as Gers dumped Hibs out of the Scottish Challenge Cup with a 6-2 victory at Easter Road under Mark Warburton. Both sides were still in the Championship after Hearts had blitzed their way to the second tier title the previous season.
The Light Blues went on to lift that trophy as well as the league, finally returning to the Premiership after their demotion to the bottom tier in 2012. However, the Hibees had the last laiugh following that Challenge Cup defeat, winning a dramatic Scottish Cup Final showdown between the teams 3-2. Waghorn knocked back a contract extension offered by Rangers that summer. He netted their first top flight goal in four years, scoring in a 1-1 home draw with Hamilton.
He then went without a goal until December, and departed Ibrox the following August, joining Ipswich Town. From there, he had the first of two spells at Derby County, as well as Coventry City, Huddersfield and Northampton Town before hanging up his boots.
He posted on Instagram: “It’s been an incredible journey. I’ve been very fortunate to play for some great clubs in my career and never took that for granted… @cafcofficial, @lcfc, @hullcity, @millwallfc, @laticsofficial, @rangersfc, @ipswichtown, @dcfcofficial, @coventrycityfcofficial, @htafc and @officiallyntfc I am proud to have worn the shirt of every one of these great clubs. Every time I stepped on the pitch all I wanted to do was make my family proud. There has been some amazing memories with friends and family that I will cherish forever.
“Thank you to everyone at @sunderlandafc for giving me the opportunity in the game. You believed in me from 7 years old until my debut at 17, thank you all. To represent my country at various age groups was always an honour and to also score on my England U21 debut was such a proud moment.
“Thank you to everyone who has been there and supported me along the way. I would like to mention some great academy coaches, Elliot Dickman, Ged McNamee & Kevin Ball to name a few but also everyone who helped me during my time at the academy. The friends and people I’ve met along the way… it’s been some journey.
“My family, thank you. Honestly I don’t know where I would be with you all. Mam and Dad thank you for all the sacrifices you made for me and with me, Starting at Boldon Colts with you Dad, what an amazing journey we’ve been on.
“Leoni, Ruben and Enzo. I can’t put into words how grateful I am to have had you by my side in my career. To share amazing memories and moments with you is something I will cherish forever.
“I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life & career as a Dad and a husband. Thank you. Waggy.”