WILY HANSON CALLS IT TIME
VETERAN striker James Hanson says it’s the right time to hang up his boots after an injury-ravaged spell at Worksop Town.
Hanson made well over 500 career appearances in an 18-year playing career, which took him to the likes of Bradford City, Sheffield United, AFC Wimbledon and Grimsby Town before moving into Non-League.
The 36-year-old is best known for his part in Bradford’s march to the 2013 Football League Cup Final as a League Two side under boss Phil Parkinson and the team which beat Chelsea in the FA Cup the season after.
Hanson has struggled with injury in his 19 months at the Windsor Foodservice Stadium but climbed off the bench in stoppage time against Whitby Town last week for one final acameo ppearance.
“I have been ready for the last three or four months,” said the striker with over 150 career goals to his name.
“I have struggled with injuries this season, and my kids are growing up now and doing activities on a weekend, so I want to invest my time into them.
“I have been playing men’s football since I was 16, and I have had the best part of 20 years, which has eventually taken its toll, but I feel that it is the right decision, and I am looking forward to having some much-needed time off at the weekends and spending time with my family.”
Starting his career at Eccleshill United, Bradford-born Hanson made the move to Guiseley, where a goal-laden two seasons attracted the attentions of his hometown club.
Hanson spent eight years at Valley Parade, making just short of 300 appearances and scoring 77 goals before making the switch to Sheffield United in 2017.
A brief spell at Bramall Lane including a loan spell at Bury before Hanson was on the move again, first to AFC Wimbledon and then Grimsby.
Hanson then rejected interest from a number of League Two and National League clubs to move back into part-time football with Farsley Celtic in National League North.
A move to Boston United followed before Hanson joined Step 4 Worksop ahead of the 2022–23 season.
There he scored as eight goals in 37 appearances as Worksop powered their way to promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier last term by a massive 31 clear points.
The Tigers are very much in the play-off picture again this season under manager, Craig Parry, who was full of praise for his expoerienced front man.
“He is a proper human being, a proper player, and a good man, and he has had an unbelievable career,” Parry said.
“He has been exceptional both on and off the pitch, and taking my manager’s cap off; I hope we are friends for life because he is a brilliant man, and I hope he looks back on the career he has had with pride and that he is proud of what he has achieved at Worksop Town.”