FORMER Aldershot Town midfielder Damon Lathrope has been forced to retire at 28 after breaking his leg while playing for Woking.

Lathrope suffered ‘life changing damage to a number of major arteries and veins’ after suffering a serious fracture in the National League match against Boreham Wood on February 24.

It was only his fourth game for Woking after joining from Torquay at the end of January.

Woking have set up a fund-raising campaign in support of the midfielder who made 45 appearances for Aldershot between 2014-16, scoring two goals, before returning to Torquay where he had earlier played 109 games.

Lathrope said on the Woking website: “I have no regrets, but the facts are that this injury will end my playing career. I will continue to move forward to the future and have a career in another area of football, off the field, maybe helping to develop players.

“I know I have a lot to offer the game in other ways than me physically being on the pitch.”