WIMBORNE Town club captain Scott Arnold is set for an “emotional” farewell game this evening at the Wyatt Homes Stadium.

After a career spanning over 20 years at the Magpies, Arnold decided now was the right time for him to hang up the boots.

He first made his debut for Wimborne in 2003 when he was just 18 years old and has since amounted over 600 appearances for the Magpies.

Speaking to the Echo ahead of tomorrow’s game, Arnold said: “it’s going to be an emotional night for me, it’s not often you have such a long career at one club.”

Since announcing his retirement on Sunday, he has received an overwhelming amount of love and support from the wider footballing community.

Regarding the response of the community, Arnold said: I’ve had so many fans, even from other teams congratulating me, it shows what the footballing community is all about.”

(Image: Steve Harris) He added: “There’s not many sports where you’d get that sort of feeling, you go to war for 90 minutes on the pitch and then you’re sharing a beer with them after the game, it’s amazing.”

Arnold became Wimborne’s record holder in September when he made his 617th appearance against AFC Totton.

On his time at the club, he said: “It’s all I’ve ever known, I had opportunities to go elsewhere but it’s always something that has kept me close.”

He added: “It’s such a good club, I’ve never wanted to leave.

“Even when we were going through tough times when the club has had no money, but I’ve stuck by them and look where we are today.”

“My favourite memory of my time at Wimborne would have to be winning the league last season but from a personal perspective, it was the last-minute winner in the 5-4 victory over Halesowen after being 4-0 down.”

This evening, Wimborne Town host Weymouth at The Wyatt Homes Stadium in the Dorset Senior Cup in what will be Arnold’s last ever game.