Former Tonbridge Angels, Maidstone United and Dover Athletic goalkeeper Lee Worgan retires, aged 39

Goalkeeper Lee Worgan has announced his retirement a matter of weeks away from his 40th birthday.

The former Maidstone and Tonbridge favourite has called time on a career that saw him chalk up 786 senior appearances.

His finest hour came in 2016 when he made the winning penalty save as the Stones beat Ebbsfleet in the National League South play-off final before lifting the trophy as captain.

Jay Saunders, his old manager at Maidstone, described Worgan as “the best I’ve ever worked with”.

Worgan, who turns 40 on December 1, also won the Isthmian Premier title at the Gallagher, having previously helped Tonbridge to play-off final glory in the same division.

“My time has come,” said Worgan, who joined Welling United as goalkeeper player-coach last summer.

“I have spent the last 30 years playing the game I love.

“The journey started in a park wearing an oversized pair of GK gloves training with my dad at nine-years-old and from that moment I dreamt of becoming a professional footballer.”

Worgan started his career with the old Wimbledon FC, remaining with the club when they relocated to Milton Keynes.

The former Wales under-21 international also had stints in the Football League with Wycombe, Rushden & Diamonds and Cardiff, moving into non-league at Hastings.

Five-year spells at Tonbridge and Maidstone followed before spending a couple of seasons as player-coach at Dover.

He went on to join Chelmsford, Dorking and hometown club Eastbourne before his summer move to Welling, although he never made an appearance for the Wings.

Reflecting on his career, Worgan said: “I have made appearances in the Championship, League 1, League 2, gained six caps for Wales U21s, made over 400 appearances in the National League as well as several