Lee Gregory: Ex-Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall, Derby County and FC Halifax Town man confirms retirement
Former Sheffield Wednesday and FC Halifax Town forward Lee Gregory has retired from playing at the age of 37.
A well-travelled forward, Gregory cut his teeth in the non-league pyramid and it was his exploits at Halifax that propelled him into the EFL.
He was part of two promotion-winning campaigns at The Shay, helping the club climb from the seventh tier to the fifth.
Gregory later represented Millwall, Stoke City and Derby County in the EFL and helped the Lions reach the Championship in 2017.
His penchant for promotions remained upon his return to Yorkshire, as the frontman was part of the Wednesday squad that escaped League One in 2023.
He was most recently employed by Mansfield Town, who first handed him a contract back in 2009. After an injury-hit spell with the Stags, Gregory has decided to call it quits.
Lee Gregory bids farewell
He said: “Retiring from the game was something I never wanted to think about, but the time has finally come.
“After every kick, every laugh, every heartbreak, I’ve come to terms with it and am retiring from professional football.
“I honestly thought this day would never come. Football has been my life, my passion, my identity. The memories I’ve made, the dreams I’ve lived - they are beyond anything I could have imagined.
“Playing out the dream I’d thought about since I was little, it has truly been the best job in the world. Even saying this now makes my heart ache and makes me want to keep going. But my body is telling me it is time.
“For my health, for my future, for the life I want to live with my family, I have to stop, and that’s okay, because endings make room for new beginnings.
“I want to thank every club I’ve played for, every teammate who pushed me, every coach who believed in me, and every fan who cheered me on. Not forgetting my non-league days, which were just as good, just as important, and shaped me into the player and person I am today.
“Football has given me everything - and now I carry it forward in my life, in my family, and in everything I do next. From the bottom of my heart, I have loved it. Thank you.”