SAINTS' FA Cup final captain Chris Marsden has been forced to retire from football through injury.

The 36-year-old midfielder, who made more than 150 appearances for Saints between 1999-2004, has been forced to admit defeat in his battle against a long-standing hamstring problem.

Marsden, who wrote a weekly column for the Echo for two years during his time at Saints, had an operation on a hamstring tendon but was warned by specialists the recovery period is a minimum of six months but that a full recovery is not guaranteed after that period.

He said: "I feel devastated that I've had to make this decision but I'm not 21 anymore and the only other option was to sit at the club getting paid. I didn't want that to happen, especially as a Sheffield lad."

Marsden enjoyed an 18-year professional career during which he made a total of 519 English league appearances, scoring 29 goals, with spells at Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Coventry, Wolves, Notts County, Stockport, Birmingham, Saints and Wednesday.

Marsden, who led Saints out at the Millennium Stadium against Arsenal in the 2003 FA Cup final, left Saints in February 2004 to move to South Korean side Busan Icons after learning his Saints contract wasn't going to be extended beyond last summer.

But his spell in the Far East proved short lived and he was soon back in England with Sheffield Wednesday - the team he supported since a boy.

Then Wednesday boss Chris Turner immediately made him captain and he scored on his debut in a friendly.

Marsden made 18 appearances for Wednesday before being hit by the hamstring problem.

Current Owls and former Saints boss Paul Sturrock said: "It's obviously a very disappointing day for Chris. It must be very frustrating for him because he has been a fit lad.

"It's always a difficult decision for a footballer to make. I'm sure he will be as successful out of football as he was in it."

Wednesday commercial director Kaven Walker added: "I would like to thank Chris for his service to Sheffield Wednesday. We realise this is a sad day for him but he has made a valuable contribution to the club in his short time here, both on and off the pitch."