Tarpey to hang up his boots after scan reveals ACL injury

Striker Dave Tarpey has decided to hang up his playing boots after being struck down by another long-term knee injury.

The striker has had some incredible spells in non-league football, most notably breaking Maidenhead United's goalscoring record as the Magpies claimed promotion to the National League as champions back in 2017.

But he's since been beset by injury, with his move into league football at Barnet in 2017 curtailed within a few weeks by an ACL injury.

It robbed him of his chance to show just what he was capable of in the Football League, but he's shown great determination to recover from these injury setbacks and perform well for clubs including Barnet, Woking, Bracknell Town, Leatherhead and most recently, Marlow - his goals helping the Blues to promotion from the Isthmian League South Central Division as play-off champions.

This season has been more of a struggle at step 3, but a scan from a knee injury sustained playing against Biggleswade Town in the Trophy last week shows he's ruptured his ACL once again and suffered other ligament damage.

At the age of 35 he's decided to call it a day and hang up his boots.

Posting on X, Tarpey said: “I am gutted to be writing this, but after scan results have shown I have ruptured my ACL with other ligament damage I have decided the time is right to hang up my boots. From starting to play football at five years old to ending at 35, I have experienced everything in football.

“Three promotions, two ACL injuries and a fantastic FA Cup run with some goalscoring records broken in there as well.

“At the age of 27 my childhood dream became a reality when I became a professional footballer for Barnet and that memory will live with me forever.

“I have played for some amazing clubs with great management teams and fans, and I thank everyone who has supported me over the years.

“Thank you to the physios that have helped me recover from three previous knee surgeries, I'm hugely grateful.

“To every teammate I've played with, it's been a pleasure to share experiences with you on and off the pitch.

“I've had amazing support from my fiancée and children who have been there for me over the highs and lows for the past 13 years and it is now time to spend more time with them.

“Also, my family who have always been there supporting me up and down the country and a massive thank you to the man who got me into football and drove me around the county, I owe so much to you dad and I couldn't have done all I have without your support.

“I now hope to use my experience and knowledge to stay in football in a coaching capacity of some sort.”

Tarpey will perhaps best be remembered for his time at Maidenhead United, first under manager Johnson Hippolyte and then - more successfully - under Alan Devonshire.

In 140 starts for the club he scored 98 goals, including four hat-tricks which included one of the best goals Maidenhead fans of any age will have seen.

In the club's 5-0- home win over Dartford in December 2016, 945 spectators saw him score a goal of the decade contender - a magical solo effort which saw him back-heel the ball over a Dartford defender before slotting it into the net.

#OTD 5️⃣ years ago, Maidenhead United stuck five unanswered goals past in-form Dartford. Dave Tarpey with four - for the second time that season; third time in the calendar year - including this memorable strike: https://t.co/DTVHzQBtdn

— ɢᴏ ᴍᴀᴅ ᴏʀ sᴛᴏᴘ ᴄᴀʀɪɴɢ (@gomadstopcaring) December 17, 2021

Then, in the first weeks of the club's tenure in the National League, he also scored four goals in a memorable away win at AFC Fylde.