LONG-SERVING Tadcaster Albion defender Andy Milne is hanging up his boots after seven years at Ings Lane.

York-born Milne made the call this week because of work commitments and a recurrence of the ankle problem that sidelined the 30-year-old in 2018.

Aside from time out following his ankle surgery three years ago, Milne has been a near ever-present in the Brewers' back line since he joined in 2014.

Milne featured in the Taddy side that fell just short of the FA Vase final in 2015, beaten at home in the quarter-final replay by Highworth Town in front of a 1,300-strong record crowd.

In 2016, Milne was named both Player of the Year by both players and supporters after helping Taddy to the Northern Counties East League premier division title and promotion to the second tier of the Northern Premier League.

The door will always be open for "role model" Milne, said manager Paul Quinn, whose sentiments were echoed by chairman Andy Charlesworth.

He added of the "class player" that he "is a great clubman who will be sorely missed but welcome at the Global Stadium any time".

Curtis Woodhouse, who had a brief stint as Brewers boss, wrote on Twitter: "He was different class for me in my time as manager - top, top player and top, top lad."

Milne started his footballing career aged nine at the Leeds United academy and went on to captain the under-18s. Around the same time, he received a call-up - one of four - to Scotland U19s in 2007.

Loaned to Darlington from Leeds in 2009, he made his Football League debut in a 1-0 defeat to Bradford City. He was named the Quakers' stand-out performer in that game - then suffered a serious ankle injury in the next, ending his 2009 stint with Darlo. He returned to the Darlington Arena for a 19-game loan spell the following year.

In the four years between leaving Leeds and joining Tadcaster, Milne turned out for Barrow in the Conference, Gainsborough Trinity and Altrincham before signing for FC Halifax.

During his time at Ossett Town and Scarborough Athletic (2011 to 2014), Milne studied for and earned a first-class degree in physical education from York St John University.