Former Hatters goalkeeper Mark Tyler hangs up his gloves

Former Luton goalkeeper Mark Tyler has officially retired from playing at the age of 44.

The shot-stopper started out his career as a trainee at Norwich City, before heading to Peterborough, making his senior debut in September 1994.

After 15 years at the Posh, Tyler then joined Luton in the summer of 2009, when the Hatters were relegated to the Conference.

He went on to play 297 matches, sitting 25th in the club's all-time appearance list, and was an ever present in the 2013-14 season when Town won promotion back into the Football League.

After keeping a club record 119 clean sheets, Tyler then returned to the Posh as player-coach on a three-month loan deal with a view to a permanent move in March 2016, and has been goalkeeper coach with United ever since.

He was on the bench twice this season as Peterborough reached the Championship, and speaking to the club's official website, Tyler said: "Heart over head, I'm officially hanging my gloves up.

"I've had a great career, but now is the time just to go out on a high with promotion and full steam ahead with fingers crossed staying in the Championship for a long time.

"It was always going to be a hard decision as I've stayed fit and healthy and I know I can still play but it's getting older and wiser now so the time is right."

When asked for some of his best memories, Tyler picked out his Wembley appearance for the Hatters in their play-off final defeat to York City, plus the Blue Square Bet Premier title success under John Still.

He added: "Playing at Wembley is always going to be a highlight, but going back over my career, my most favourite game was for Luton versus Peterborough in the FA up here at London Road.

"I had the whole ground singing my name, and had my family and friends in both ends, so it was just a wonderful occasion and to be fair I didn't have bad game, so I was quite happy as well.

"The Luton promotion game at Kenilworth Road when we beat Forest Green and got the trophy, it was an amazing achievement,.

"Just playing in front of the fans is the highlight of my career, you want to make them happy and I've always had a good relationship with all the fans.

"So I'm a bit gutted but I'm still coaching, so I'm happy do that now."