"The veteran player has decided to hang up his boots just a month after securing a deal with a new team, expressing his disapproval about the move."
Gary Madine, the former Premier League striker, announced his retirement from football on August 25. The 32-year-old, who spent a significant portion of his career in League One and the Championship, bid farewell to the game after a career spanning over a decade.
Madine's professional journey began at his hometown club, Carlisle United, where he made his senior debut in March 2008. Over the next few years, he scored 22 goals from 85 appearances for the Cumbrians. However, his most prolific season came in the 2011/12 season with Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored an impressive 18 goals in 38 league fixtures, contributing to their promotion to the Championship.
In January 2010, Madine made his first permanent move to Sheffield Wednesday. After five more goals in the next 50 appearances, he was shifted out to Bolton in 2015. At Bolton, he scored 26 times from 107 appearances and was a part of another promotion from League One to the Championship.
Madine's career saw him don the jerseys of 11 different clubs. After Bolton, he joined Hartlepool United in August 2024, but moved to Spennymoor Town after one season with the former. However, his stint with Spennymoor was brief, as he retired from football after just two appearances, both resulting in 2-0 victories.
Madine's retirement was a result of him no longer having 'that fire in my belly'. In his retirement statement, he thanked Spennymoor Town fans, teammates, and everyone involved at the club. Spennymoor boss Graeme Lee expressed his best wishes for Madine's future and congratulated him on a fantastic career. Madine also wished Spennymoor Town all the success in the world and hoped they would have an enjoyable season.
Madine expressed his regret about not being able to give his best to Spennymoor due to his lack of passion for the game. He went on three separate loan spells while at Carlisle United without scoring a goal. After his retirement in 2022, he was not signed by any club.
Despite the ups and downs, Madine's career was marked by his determination and resilience. He will be remembered as a striker who gave his all on the pitch and left an indelible mark on the clubs he represented.
