Former Republic of Ireland ‘B’ International and Ipswich town keeper Keith Branagan has been forced to quit the game after an agonising nine-month battle against a shoulder injury.
The 36 year-old damaged the 'ligaments and joint' in training last January and had an operation three months later.
But despite an extensive rehab programme and discussions with the leading specialists in the field, including consultants who helped treat the likes of sports-men, David Seaman and Tim Henman, for serious shoulder problems, Branagan is still restricted by the injury and has been told to quit the game.
He said: "A couple of weeks ago I returned to training and started to step up my work. But then I went to make a routine save again and the pain hit me, hard. It felt like a bullet had shot straight through my shoulder."
"I went to see the specialist who had done the operation on Tuesday and after talking to him for a while, he told me the injury was never going to get any better and that I had to give up playing.”
"I have never been at a club where a player has had to retire from injury before so it is unknown territory for me. I have been in touch with the PFA for advice and I'm sure that will be ongoing until everything is sorted out."
He now plans to return to Bolton (he spent 8 years playing here) where his family are based and begin a career as a goalkeeping coach. Keith represented the Republic of Ireland at senior level and he played against England at Anfield in Dec.1994
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