CROCKED non-league star Carl Poore has reluctantly decided to hang up his boots at the age of 29.

Experienced defender Poore has retired from playing after being plagued by ankle and knee problems in recent seasons.

The former Cherries apprentice represented Dorchester and Wimborne in the semi-pro ranks before starring as captain of Poole Town.

He skippered Dolphins to Wessex Premier glory and promotion to the Southern League but was unable to feature for them at step four level.

Poore was forced to have surgery on his right ankle after being carried off in Poole’s FA Vase semi-final defeat at Whitley Bay in April 2011.

Despite then suffering from arthritis in the ankle, Poore resumed playing for his local club Cranborne before going on to link up with Bemerton.

But the self-employed plasterer, who had been keen to make it back into Poole’s first team, called it a day after aggravating a persistent problem with his left knee earlier this month.

He said that the combination of a loss of income and the prospect of his knee causing problems in later life were the deciding factors.

Poore told the Daily Echo: “I got back to training with Bemerton Heath Harlequins at the start of the season and I was playing for them.

“I went over on my knee and went for an MRI scan, which showed that I needed an arthroscopy.

“I had that done in November and tried to get back to fitness with Cranborne but it didn’t happen.

“I was hoping to play on until my mid-30s if my body had been up together.

“But with the injury which occurred at Whitley Bay and then this one, the time off work, as someone who is self-employed, was costing me money. In the long run, it was going to be worse.

“It (Poore’s left knee) had been feeling okay but, after the latest problem, it swelled up massively and I made my decision.”

Poore, who was recently linked with the Christchurch vacancy, is keen to remain in the game in a coaching or management role.

He has this month started working towards his coaching badges.

Poore added: “Hopefully, I will join a club and run a reserve or youth team and start there. I definitely want to stay involved.”