Rebels midfielder Warren Harris forced to retire due to knee injury

Slough Town midfielder Warren Harris has been forced to retire from the game at the age of just 30 due to ongoing problems related to a knee injury.

Harris has been one of the most influential players during his eight-and-a-half-years at the club, helping the Rebels to two promotions through the play-offs and winning multiple manager, supporter, and players' player of the year awards.

A club stalwart, he's amassed 301 appearances in amber and blue, scoring 62 goals, including crucial strikes in the play-off win over Rugby Town and the winner in the FA Cup against Folkstone Invicta, a goal that saw the Rebels progress to the first round of the competition for the first time under Neil Baker and Jon Underwood.

A model of consistency, he very rarely gave a poor performance, driving himself and his teammates forward with his hard-work, speed of thought and pressing style of play.

Defenders were never given a moment's peace when Harris was on the field and if ever a player typified the ethos Baker and Underwood have attempted to instil at Slough Town, it's him.

It's unfortunate that injury has curtailed his playing career. He tore his meniscus before the start of the seasons and injections allowed him to return to the starting line up in recent weeks. However, the knee has become unstable again and, while an operation might be able to repair that, he also has arthritis in his knee which has the potential to cause problems for him later in life. To guard against that he's been advised by a specialist to give up playing football, much to his and his managers’ sadness and frustration.

Writing in a club statement, Baker said: “This is obviously a huge blow, not only to 'Wazza' but also to us.

“Wazza has been a standout player now for a number of years, amassing a fantastic 301 appearances and 62 goals over an eight-and-a-half-year period at Slough - this with a year out with a torn ACL.

“He also served us for two years at Godalming Town, meaning most of his senior career has been played with us as his managers.

“As managers you love to work with people like Warren as he is not only an excellent player, but a top person who has not caused us one bit of trouble in our tenure.

“We are personally gutted and can only thank him for his contributions in helping us go from a step 4 club to an established step 2 club.

“He has scored some memorable goals for the club including a playoff goal at Rugby Town, the winning goal against Folkestone Invicta which got us to the first-round proper of the FA Cup for the first time as managers, and the winner against Bath City which gave us our first win in the 2019/20 season and helped put us on a winning run that would eventually lead to a playoff place.

“However, he is well known as ‘Big Waz’ for the number of goals he has scored with his head gambling at the back post.

“He was always a firm favourite amongst his teammates due to his honesty and work rate, and will no doubt be missed.”

The managers will be making a special presentation to Warren ahead of this Saturday's FA Trophy game with Eastbourne Borough at Arbour Park.

Baker is keen for as many people as possible to be there and recognise his achievements and service to the club over the past nine seasons.

During his time at the club, Warren’s achievements included:

2013/14 Managers' Player of the Season

2013/14 Players' Player of the Season

2013/14 Supporters' Player of the Season

2013/14 Won promotion to Southern League, Premier Division

2017/18 Won promotion to National League South

2017/18 Managers' Player of the Season (jointly won with Jack Turner)

2018/19 Berks & Bucks FA Senior Cup

National League South Player of the Month - September 2019

2019/20 Players' Player of the Season