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| Harry Pell playing for Hereford against FC United of Manchester in 2012 |
The 34-year-old announced his decision earlier today, bringing an end to a career spanning more than 500 professional appearances. Pell, who played for the Bulls between 2011 and 2013, said the decision followed “a great deal of thought” after his body “telling me enough is enough”.
Harry Pell’s full statement on retirement
After a great deal of thought, and my body telling me enough is enough, I've decided that the time is right for me to retire from professional football.
Football has been my life, shaping who I am both on and off the pitch. I'm incredibly grateful for every opportunity I've had, every club I've represented, and every teammate, coach, and staff member who's supported me along the way.
My thanks go to the supporters across the country whose backing never went unnoticed, and to the fans who made it very tough at times, as those moments were part of the player I was, and a main reason why I loved the game so much.
I'm proud to have reached the milestone of 500 professional appearances during my career, an achievement I could only ever dream of as a young pup.
I want to thank my family and friends for their constant backing throughout my journey. Their support behind the scenes has been priceless and has helped me through both the highs and the challenges of professional football.
While this chapter comes to a close, my love for the game will always remain. I'm excited for what the future holds and look forward to taking on new challenges away from the pitch.
Thank you to everyone who's been part of my journey.
Pelle
Having come through the ranks at Charlton Athletic, as a 20-year-old, Pell joined the Bulls on loan from Bristol Rovers and signed permanently for Jamie Pitman's side in June 2011.
During a difficult spell at Edgar Street as the Bulls battled to retain their Football League status, Pell ended up scoring a penalty in the final game of the 2011/12 season as Hereford beat Torquay 3-2 - but it wasn't enough to avoid the drop.
In January 2023, Pell signed for League Two side AFC Wimbledon on a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £30,000.
He then joined Cheltenham Town, Colchester United and Accrington Stanley before a return to the Dons. It was then back at Cheltenham where he ruptured his ACL, and after a month with Bath, he retired.