Former Soca Warriors goalkeeper, Clayton Ince hanged up his gloves and retired from professional football after Walsall's 3-2 victory over MK Dons in the English Division One on Saturday secured the club a tenth place finish. The match brought the curtain down on a colourful 25-year playing career for the 37-year-old Ince, who had established himself as one of the best goalkeepers ever to serve the club. The T&T international arrived at Banks's Stadium in July 2006 from Coventry City and played a key role in Walsall's League Two Championship success of 2006/07 where he kept a record-breaking 22 clean sheets. He continued his fine form at the higher level and a further 19 shut-outs followed in 2007/08.
Ince was named Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season last term, during which time he also lined up against England in an international friendly for T&T. This term he had 27 outings to his name after playing second-fiddle to Rene Gilmartin since the end of February. "When your body can't push to the max any more, you have to look at other options," Ince said. "I've done it for 25-years and now it is time to make way for young players to have their chance. "It was a tough decision. I have spoken to my family and friends about it and this is the right time to do it. "I have achieved a lot of things in the game and now I want to help develop the next generation. I set up a Sports Academy back home a few years ago to give local kids the opportunity to live their dream just like I did. "I'm going back to T&T to see if I can make a difference and to be able to do that means so much to me."
As a teenager, Ince enrolled in the T&T Army and started to play for Defence Force, the nation's most successful football team. "The experience that I have had in England will stand me in good stead and I will certainly take back the professionalism to the Caribbean," stated Ince, who made his international debut April 4, 1997 at age 24 and played 79 times for the national team. "This is a new chapter in my life and a new challenge, but the memories of my playing days will stay with me forever." "I have the Clayton Ince Sports Academy and I'll go home and put more time into that. "We work with kids aged five to 15 and I'm looking forward to being more hands on. I want to pass on my knowledge and experience. I might not be playing football but I'll still be in it. I've been away from family for a long time. My wife is over here with me, so is my daughter who is studying, but we are a big family and I'm looking forward to being reunited with them all."
