FORMER Saints defender Aaron Martin paid tribute to his hometown club as he announced his retirement from professional football. 

The 34 year old centre-back, who was the captain of Eastleigh, has hung up his boots due to a persistent back injury.

Martin, born on the Isle of Wight, made 300 professional appearances across a career spanning 15 years.

He played 29 times for Saints as a youngster, after joining from Eastleigh, helping to win promotion from League One to the Premier League.

Speaking after announcing his retirement, Martin said: "Signing and playing for your hometown, that was just unbelievable.

"To experience the promotions that we did and to score at St Mary’s, that will always be a highlight in my career for me.

"When I started my first game for Southampton in the season that we got promoted to the Championship, I made a tackle in front of the Northam End and they were all just singing my name and that’s just never ever left me.

"The obvious one is playing at Wembley Stadium multiple times. That is any boy’s dream so to achieve it is just surreal to me."

He added: "I remember signing and the biggest difference I found was in the physical side of things and how much quicker the game was.

"You’re playing against and with much better players athletically, technically, and in terms of their mentality.

"It was just a huge challenge to go from non-league and being part-time to then going into full-time and training every day.

"I just always remember in my head I was like, ‘Yes! I’ve made the jump to Southampton.’

"I still had the mentality of nothing’s gonna stop me from getting into the first-team and whatever they offered me at the time, I didn’t really care because all I wanted to do was play for Saints."

Martin is currently coaching in the Saints academy, where he serves as an assistant coach to the under-14s.