Cambuslang Rangers, Clyde and Albion Rovers hero on hanging up his boots at 38

John Gemmell says he knew his career was over when he struggled to chase his three-year-old daughter in the park last week.

The prolific striker - nicknamed 'The Beast' - and man of many clubs hung up his boots this week, aged 38, having helped Dumbarton get to the League One play-offs.

The former Cambuslang Rangers, Albion Rovers, Queen’s Park and Clyde hitman has no regrets, but says rupturing an Achilles and a calf tear has led to a seven-month injury nightmare that has affected his work and home life, and will now make his way back to fitness on his own terms.

“I’ve known for a wee while, I’ve just been trying to give myself time to get used to the idea of it all,” he said.

“It’s hard dealing with it all and realising what’s going on.

“I’m in a wee bit of a better place now, trying to talk about it more, but it has been a bit of a gutter.

“I ruptured my Achilles, I had a full rupture and a bit of a calf tear, and I’ve been doing physio, but that has been seven months.

“I still can’t even jog or anything, or go to the gym. I’ve never really been injured, so it’s a real nightmare that affects everything in your life.

“When it affects the kids, it’s a bit of an eye-opener, because they’re more important than me, now.

“The physios were advising me to introduce a wee jog and stuff like that, but there’s no point. I’ve spent the last 20-odd years working to timescales and all that, and I don’t need to bother any more.

“I’m just going to take my time and try and recover at my own pace.”

Gemmell has had a lengthy career, having started out at the Spiders as a fresh-faced 17-year-old, and is delighted he got as far as he did.

“I’m proud of my career, and especially proud of this season, even though it didn’t end on my terms,”