Former Maidstone United winger Alex Flisher, 30, announces his retirement after suffering fresh knee injury

Former Maidstone favourite Alex Flisher has announced his retirement from football, aged just 30.

Flisher is calling it a day after suffering a fresh knee injury during pre-season training with Hythe.

The winger, who overcame serious knee injuries during his time with Maidstone and Margate, is set to undergo his fourth operation early next month.

With work and a young family to consider, the dad-of-two can’t keep putting his body through the strain of trying to come back from injuries.

Flisher was taking part in shuttle runs - also known as doggies - at the end of a training session when his knee gave way.

He knew then the game was up, with a scan showing what’s known as a bucket-handle tear in his cartilage.

Days earlier, he'd pulled on a Maidstone shirt again to play in Bill Williams' testimonial.

“I literally ran five yards to the first cone, put my left leg down and went to turn back and as I’ve turned it just popped,” said Flisher, who rejoined Hythe from Sittingbourne over the summer and also played for Dartford.

“I felt it go and I think I heard it go and that was it.

“I was in a bit of pain, I was just sat there and I was thinking to myself, ‘This is it now, I can’t keep doing this’.

“I did all the training fine, turning, sprinting, everything, and then we went and did these doggies and I ran five yards and that was it, it just popped.

“I don’t want to be in the position where I can’t walk properly for the rest of my life and obviously I need to work as well.

“It’s not just football I’ve got to think about.

“I’m literally just 30 so it’s not ideal, but what can you do?

“I did my cartilage in my right knee last year, I had a slight tear and I had an injection, and after that me and George (Flisher’s wife) said if