PHIL BOLLAND knew it was time to retire when he was no longer enjoying his football.

The Liverpool-born central defender was only a bit part player for Welsh Premier League Airbus last season and he was sure that hanging up his boots to spend more time with his young family was the right thing to do.

A change in working hours as physio for Liverpool Academy meant he was facing being away from his family for the majority of the week - and football was no longer one of the most important things in his life.

“I’m 38 in August, my work hours were changing and I have three young children aged six, four and two,” explained Bolland when asked why he called an end to a career spanning almost 20 years.

“I am going to have to cover games for the Academy on Sunday’s and my two lads will be playing football now, so it seemed like the right time.

“I also didn’t play as much as possible last season and even when I was playing I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I should have been.

“At my age when you don’t enjoy it, you don’t carry on.

“There were times when I was sitting on the bench thinking ‘someone else should be doing this’.”

While he failed to play as much as he would have liked in the last couple of seasons, Bolland has few complaints about a career that saw him visit both the old and new Wembley.

“It is never easy deciding to retire, but I would rather the decision was mine,” he continued. “I am lucky to have had the career I’ve had.

“Some of the big players can’t say they have done as much as I have with two trips to Wembley and one appearance at the old Wembley.”

Understandably the Wembley trips, even the one that saw him sent-off as Cambridge United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Torquay in the Conference Premier play-off final, are particular highlights.

“Three hours after the sending off my wife was in labour with our second child,” he explained. “I was also offered a new deal by the club despite the red card, but decided against it.

“The other Wembley appearances with Southport when we lost in the FA Trophy final and the trip with Barrow when we won were also massive highs as was winning the league with Chester.”

Bolland was part of Chester’s Conference Premier title winning side in 2003/04 and he counts that group of players as special.

“You look at the players in that squad and they were so down to earth,” said Bolland. “It was a group of genuine players who were talented, but had the same work ethic.

“When we were playing we were all working as a group to get the club promoted and looking around at other teams we knew there was nobody else like us.”

After leaving Chester for Peterborough, Bolland returned to the Deva Stadium before he was deemed surplus to requirements by manager Bobby Williamson.

A switch to cross-border rivals Wrexham followed, and although the Reds were relegated, Bolland enjoyed his time at The Racecourse.

“I loved it there,” he declared. “It was strange at times because I was still seen as the Chester captain, but playing for Wrexham.

“I managed to win a few people over during my time there and it was disappointing to be relegated because I had total confidence we would get out of trouble.

“I wanted to stay despite relegation and I was told I was going to stay, but nothing happened.”

Bolland spent just five months with Wrexham but that has not stopped him from continuing to keep a close eye on their progress.

“I always look out for their result and I was willing them to beat Newport,” he revealed. “I am sure they would rather have won the play-off final than the FA Trophy, but that is football.

“They have a manager in now who knows the league very well and there is no reason why they can’t reach the play-offs again.

“They are one of the biggest clubs I played for in my career, including Peterborough, who were another good club, and it would be great to see them do well again.”

While Wrexham and Chester attempt to win promotion from their respective leagues, Bolland will be starting life without football.

“It is funny because I am going away at the end of July and the start of August, which would be a no-no with pre-season,” he said. “I am sure when I come back it will sink in a little bit more that I won’t be playing and I will probably start to reflect on my career.”