Alex Rodman has thanked Bristol Rovers, members of staff behind the scenes and Gasheads, along with family members and his former clubs, in an emotional open letter confirming his retirement, while also revealing a battle with vertigo has led to his decision to step away from the professional game at the age of 36.
Rodman hasn’t played for Rovers since August 2021 due to a broken foot and back issues and just hours after the Gas confirmed the winger would be retiring in their retained list for the summer he highlighted the illness as the reason behind his decision to end his 14-year career.
Vertigo is the sensation of feeling off balance and that everything around you is moving, while other symptoms range from dizzy spells, nausea and vomiting to loss of hearing. Rodman also battled serious illness earlier in his career when tests revealed he had three blood clots in his lungs.
He signed for Rovers in the summer of 2018 after leaving Shrewsbury Town and made 96 appearances under five different managers in BS7 and had been the longest-serving member of Joey Barton’s dressing room.
He brings the curtain down on an impressive and varied career in the EFL and non-league, with 591 career appearances, playing for Aldershot Town, Newport County, Notts County, Shrewsbury and Rovers, after working his way up through the semi-professional scene, earning two caps for England C and representing his country at futsal.
“After an ongoing battle with Vestibular Neuritis (vertigo) in 2020, and again in August last year, I will be retiring this summer,” he wrote on social media.
“I’ve had some challenges with illness and injury throughout my career. I’m proud of what I’ve learnt in those tough times, as well as the many great memories I will cherish. I’d like to thank Bristol Rovers and our club doctor Ian Ferguson for the care and expertise, the PFA, professor Pete Rea and physio Liz Davies throughout this period.
“To every club I represented, every fan that supported my teams, every teammate, manager, coach and owner, thank you for being a part of a special journey for me over the last 14 years.”
The last time Rodman featured in a matchday squad for Rovers was the 7-0 victory over Scunthorpe United last May which sealed their return to League One and he noted that among his career highlights, along with winning at West Ham in a League Cup tie during his time with Aldershot in 2011 and his goal for the Shrews in the 2018 play-off final defeat to Rotherham United.
Rodman experienced a unique journey in football as, after being released by Wolves and Aston Villa as a schoolboy, he didn’t take the game seriously again until he was at university, studying business at Nottingham Trent.
Having run a number of ventures during his playing days, the 36-year-old, who also holds a Masters in Sports Directorship, has begun to map out his post-football career as he’s a founding partner of financial advisory firm Sterling James Wealth and sits on the players board within the PFA.
Rodman was Rovers' PFA representative throughout much of his time at the club, most notably during the Covid-19 cancelled season and all the uncertainty that created further down the pyramid.
“I feel lucky to look back on some special moments that will stay with me forever… that epic 7-0 game last season at the Mem for promotion, some great cup runs beating West Ham at Upton Park and playing against Man Utd, meeting HRH after winning Player of the Round and scoring at Wembley for Shrewsbury in the play-off final among some of the best,” he added.
“Finally, I’d like to thank my family and friends who have supported me tirelessly. A special thank you to my fiancee, who has been a rock through the many ups and downs, and to my dad who has been my biggest supporter since the very beginning.
“Whether that’s climbing to the top of the stairs at the Stadium of Light to watch me score after a knee replacement, or refusing to miss Port Vale away after a hernia op. Without your advice, guidance and support this journey may never have happened.”
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