Former Canvey schoolboy Ty Gooden has announced his retirement from league football at the age of 30.

After a spell with Arsenal as a trainee, Gooden made 146 appearances for Swindon, scoring nine goals, in a seven season spell from 1993.

In 2000 the services of the midfielder were snapped-up by Peter Taylor, who co-incidentally started his career with Canvey Island, for Gillingham

His Priestfield spell saw him become a key member of the Kent club's Division Two promotion-winning side.

He made 59 appearances for the Gills, scoring on five occasions, but suffered a bad ankle knock at the end of the 2001/02 campaign -- an injury which kept him out for the whole of last season.

Published Friday, June 20, 2003

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