'It was breaking my heart' - Carl Winchester bids an emotional farewell to Shrewsbury Town
An emotional Carl Winchester says it was a difficult decision to leave Shrewsbury Town - but the right one for his family.
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The former Salop skipper left after two-and-a-half years in Shropshire to go back home to his native Northern Ireland. He signed a deal with Derry City who play in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
Winchester, who appeared more than 100 times for Shrewsbury after originally signing in the summer of 2022, had been missing his family.
The 31-year-old lived in Shrewsbury while his partner and young three-year-old daughter still live in Northern Ireland.
Winchester had told the Shropshire Star - after his 500th career appearance at Leyton Orient - of his battles with homesickness.
And now he has explained his decision to return home: "It was a difficult decision.
"It has been tough for a while off the pitch with the family back home. I have a little girl, she's three, and she is missing her dad a lot - it was breaking my heart seeing her like that.
"So the decision was made probably a couple of weeks ago as it was having a knock-on effect back home.
"I thought I needed to put my family first this time.
"I sat down and spoke to my family and thought about what was best for them instead of what was best for me.
"People do not see that side of football. It is tough, and I said to my partner I can't do this anymore. It is not fair to anyone.
"So we made the decision for me to go home and be part of their life now."
Winchester asked the club if they could terminate his contract - making him a free agent - which Shrewsbury did.
And he says he is very grateful to chairman Roland Wycherley and the rest of the club for allowing him to go.
"I appreciate it so much," he said. "It is not an easy decision for the football club to let their captain go, but they understand that everyone is a normal person, and they have issues going on outside of football.
"And the club and the chairman just wanted what was best for me as a person, and I really appreciate it. I thank them very much for that.
"The highlights would be being captain of the team. It is just a big honour to me and my family and everyone back home."
