A selection of Everton supporters have been reacting on social media after former Leeds United, Toffees, Leicester City and Preston North End striker Jermaine Beckford confirmed his retirement from professional football as a result of injuries.
The 35-year-old played just one game for Bury last season (TransferMarkt), after joining the League One side as a free agent on a two-year contract in May 2017 (BBC).
His career had begun at Wealdstone FC before joining Leeds in 2006, where he made a name for himself, including scoring the winning goal as the Whites eliminated Manchester United in the Third Round of the FA Cup in January 2010.
The London-born striker would go on to join Everton following the termination of his Leeds contract that summer (BBC), having scored 31 goals across all competitions that season, narrowly missing out on repeating his 34 strike haul from the 2008/09 campaign.
Beckford’s time with Everton was less fruitful than elsewhere as he scored ten goals in 40 appearances for the Goodison Park natives, before leaving for Leicester City in 2011 for a reported £4million (BBC).
One moment that seems to have esteemed the 6-cap Jamaica international in Toffees history was his goal for the Merseyside outfit at home to Chelsea in May 2011, when he dribbled the length of the pitch and past numerous Blues defenders to lob Petr Cech for the would-be winning goal.
Injuries, though, have taken their toll on Beckford, who confirmed his retirement from professional football with an Instagram post.
“My journey as a professional footballer has unfortunately come to an end,” he wrote. “The operations I've had over the last couple of years have gotten the better of me.
“Football has given me all and more than I could've ever dreamed of and for all those that I have had the privilege of meeting and sharing any and all moments with, I will be eternally grateful.”
Everton fans have been reacting to news of Beckford’s retirement with messages of their own reflecting on the striker’s times at Goodison Park.
Here’s what these fans have shared…