Oldham forward Smith forced to retire

Oldham forward Ed Smith has been forced to retire due to a knee injury.

Smith first damaged his ACL whilst playing for York in 2017 and had two knee reconstructions before the Roughyeds took a chance on him in 2019.

He played three games for them on his return from injury but has since experienced struggles with the problem whilst keeping fit at home during the Covid-19 pandemic this year.

He will now retire with immediate effect.

Smith told Oldham’s official club website: “My knee didn’t feel right and when I spoke to the surgeon he said the reconstruction graft looked thin and there was a high risk of arthritis in later life or the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) failing for a third time.

“It was still a tough decision for me to make, but I’m sure it’s the right one. I have tried desperately hard to get to a position where I could play for a while longer, but it wasn’t to be.

“You reach a stage where you have to admit defeat. I can only repeat that I will seriously miss being part of the Roughyeds’ squad and club and I will be there next season urging on the boys as a fan.”