Former Carlisle United defender Gary Liddle has confirmed his retirement after reaching a major career milestone.
The 38-year-old, who is now manager of Whitby Town, made his 800th career appearance at the weekend.
And Liddle will now step away from playing duties to concentrate fully on management.
Whitby, who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, announced the decision after their 2-0 defeat to Morpeth Town on Saturday.
"Gary Liddle has announced his retirement from football, playing his final match over the weekend," they said.
"Congratulations on all you have achieved in your playing career, Lidds!
Gary Liddle has announced his retirement from football, playing his final match over the weekend.
Congratulations on all you have achieved in your playing career, Lidds! ????
We look forward to continuing to work with Liddle in his managerial role with the club ????
— Whitby Town FC (@WhitbyTownFC) February 10, 2025
"We look forward to continuing to work with Liddle in his managerial role with the club."
Liddle, fourth from left, pictured celebrating a goal for Carlisle in their 6-0 win over Oldham in 2018 (Image: STUART WALKER)
Liddle's long and respected career included a 117-game spell with Carlisle from January 2017 to the summer of 2019.
He was brought in by Keith Curle amid United's League Two promotion challenge in 2016/17, going on to play in the second half of the campaign which resulted in a play-off semi-final defeat to Exeter City.
Liddle, whose spell included two Blues goals, remained a mainstay of the side under Curle in 2017/18 and then subsequent managers John Sheridan and Steven Pressley in 2018/19.
He had previously played for Hartlepool United, Notts County, Bradford City and Chesterfield.
After leaving the Blues, he went on to play for Walsall before returning to Hartlepool, later joining South Shields and Spennymoor Town.
He has been with Whitby since 2024, initially as player and assistant manager. He stepped up to the top job at the Turnbull Ground last October after Nathan Haslam's departure and recently signed an extended deal at the helm.
Whitby sit 19th, one place below Workington Reds in the NPL Premier table. Liddle's assistant is fellow former United man Jason Kennedy while their squad includes the ex-Carlisle attacker Nathan Thomas.
There was a further ex-Blues element to Liddle's final game as a player, since Whitby's 2-0 defeat to Morpeth came courtesy of two other former United players in Nathan Buddle and Nic Bollado.
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