DROGHEDA UNITED MIDFIELDER and former Ireland underage international Sean Thornton has called time on his 16-year career, the club has confirmed.
The 34-year-old last figured for Drogs during their 2-0 home defeat to Finn Harps a fortnight ago, but retires with a third of the season remaining after making 73 appearances and scoring 14 goals for his hometown club since his return from the UK in 2015.
Thornton played in the Premier League with Sunderland after joining from Tranmere Rovers in 2002, and earned 12 caps for Ireland under-21s between 2003 and 2005. He made 77 appearances for Doncaster after his move in 2005 before joining Leyton Orient two years later. His stint in London was punctuated by a short loan spell at Shrewsbury, before a move to Wales where he spent four years at three different clubs.
The Louth man returned home two years ago for his first taste of League of Ireland football. After relegation with Drogheda in his first season, Thornton scored the decisive penalty in the Boynesiders’ 3-2 aggregate play-off win over Wexford Youths the following campaign, catapulting his boyhood club back to the Premier Division.
While confirming his retirement, an official club statement from Drogheda added: “Everyone at Drogheda United would like to wish Sean and his family all the best and we look forward to welcoming them to United Park on a regular basis.”
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