Ex-West Ham, Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic striker to retire at 36

Former West Ham striker Nicky Maynard is poised to call time on his playing career at the age of 36. He has been playing his football in non-league with Macclesfield since last summer and is set to see out the rest of this season with the Silkmen before hanging up his boots.

His career started at Crewe Alexandra after he spent a year as a schoolboy at Arsenal and he broke into the Railwaymen’s first-team back in 2005. He has since gone on to make 524 appearances across a variety of divisions in both England and Scotland and has scored 168 goals.

West Ham signed Maynard from Bristol City back in 2012 and he went on to score four goals in 17 games for the London club. He was part of the Hammers’ side promoted from the Championship in his first campaign.

He has taken to Instagram to post the following message: “As a kid growing up my dream was to be a footballer. I’m thankful to of been able to fulfill my dream and have a career that I am proud of. The teams I have played for I’m forever grateful for the opportunities you gave me to succeed.

“My team mates of 19 years I’ve had the pleasure of sharing the dressing room and pitch with it was an honour and the friends I have made along the way, I hope I was a good teammate on and off the pitch as I can assure you all were great for me. An environment I’m sure I’ll miss but will never forget.

“Thanks to the fans who have supported me and the ones that jeered me along the way you’ve made me a better person. To have promotions, accolades and to play in the Premier League on my CV is something I will look back on with great pride.

“I hope I have set standards for my boys to go above and beyond to succeed in whatever they wish to dream.”

As well as West Ham, the attacker also had spells at Cardiff City, Wigan Athletic, MK Dons, Aberdeen, Bury, Mansfield Town, Newport County and Tranmere Rovers. It remains to be seen whether his future lies in football or not.