Halliwell: Ton stint was my career swansong

Goalkeeper Bryn Halliwell says the opportunity to come in and help out at Morton towards the end of the season was a fantastic swansong to his playing career.

Gaffer Jim Duffy brought experienced shot-stopper Halliwell in on loan from Gartcairn Juniors as a short-term measure to provide emergency cover at the business end of the 2016/17 campaign.

The 36-year-old made one appearance, starting against Dundee United on the final day of the regular Ladbrokes Championship season before having to come off injured in the second half.

Halliwell has revealed that the 69-minute run-out is likely to be has last in the game as he intends to focus on his sons’ footballing future but relished the chance to bring down the curtain by helping out at Cappielow.

He told gmfc.net: “I think my time with Morton will be my swansong. I’ve got two boys who are starting their football journey and I’ve had my time. My eldest Alfie is in at Rangers and Oscar is just starting.

“I first retired in 2010 at Partick Thistle and then have been junior, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and that gave me the bug for playing again.

“There was the time I was in at Hearts for a month and that turned into a year that I was training there and that fit in really well round my job at Edinburgh Airport fire service, which is my bread and butter.

“This season I played a game for Gary Bollan [at Forfar], and Jim Duffy then got in touch to say he needed a bit of cover just in case and [asked]: ‘How would you feel about coming in and helping out Gats and Jamie?’

“I said ‘absolutely’. It was a fantastic opportunity to come in and help out. I started against Dundee United but had to go off with a pulled thigh. I did it in the first half and it was okay if I was just kicking with my left.

“I passed with my right and it was just a bit too sore and felt I had to come off and get it sorted. But Jamie McGowan came on and did fantastically so credit to him.

“The boys did absolutely fantastic this season. They probably punched a little bit above their weight, but they deserved everything they got.”

Image: David Bell