INJURY has forced Leigh RMI's assistant manager Gary Kelly to retire as a goalkeeper.
The 38-year-old sustained the injury while playing for the Railwaymen, at Chester, last Boxing Day, and it has proved more extensive than first thought. The original diagnosis was a broken bone, but this has turned out to be a ruptured ligament of the thumb and hand.
Extensive reconstruction revealed arthritic activity in the thumb joint, and the consultant advised Kelly to retire from playing, as any more damage to the joint or hand could lead to the possibility of a replacement thumb being required.
In a 22-year- career, the former Irish International made more than 500 appearances for eight clubs, including Newcastle United, West Ham, Sheffield United, Oldham and Bury.
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