A STALWART of local football has finally called it a day after 37 years.

Phil Hodgkins, who until the end of this season was Hallow Village manager in the McDonald’s Worcester and District Sunday League, has decided to hang up his boots.

After playing for Westside from 1980 to 1991 and Cutnall Green for the 1991-92 season Hodgkins took up management in 1993 at Worcester Juniors, oldest son James’ team, in 1993, winning the Mercian League Under 13s Cup in 1997-98.

The following season he led the Worcester Juniors side two age groups younger as middle son Ben played for them.

He continued until they finished boys’ football and was then asked if he would combine both teams he had managed in the adult leagues as Worcester Juniors.

The team played in the former Malvern League in 2002-03.

Hodgkins, who turns 60 in July, and his assistant manager Jeff Loynes would have cars full of players for away fixtures since the players were often still too young to drive.

They finished third and Hodgkins won the league’s manager’s manager of the year award.

They joined the Worcester league the next season and youngest son Sam started playing aged 16 so all three siblings were in the same team for the first time.

Juniors rapidly gained promotions up the divisions.

At the start of the 2006-07 season the team had to relocate to Hallow and in 2007-08 changed their name to Hallow Village when Hodgkins also became club secretary.

In 2010-11 they finished second in Division One and were promoted to the top flight.

Over the last five seasons Hallow Village have played in Division One and in 2014-15 won the league and county fair play awards.

They won the county accolade again the following season.

Hodgkins, of Holt Heath, plans on spending his Sunday mornings as a spectator and taking a well-deserved break though he continues to play five-a-side football at St Johns Sports Centre.