ALTRINCHAM kept their survival hopes alive and bade farewell to legendary keeper Stuart Coburn on a momentous day at The J.Davidson Stadium.

Coburn called time on a record-breaking Alty career just moments before his team-mates tore into already-doomed Welling United and staved off the threat of relegation for another week with a thumping 5-0 win.

It means Alty have to win at Braintree on Saturday, before the BT Sport cameras, and hope other results go their way. But they could hardly have wished for a better end to their home programme, after Welling were put to the sword and Coburn picked up a Special Recognition Trophy from chairman Grahame Rowley for making more appearances than any player in the club's history.

"I've been agonising for weeks over whether I can get back to the level of fitness and conditioning needed to do myself justice," said Coburn, who has missed most of the season with a ruptured Achilles.

"Finally, I reached a decision, and I'm gutted at having to finish.

"Your reactions never leave you, but jumping is a problem. I can't take off properly on my left foot.

"The Achilles is fine now, but my calf isn't strong enough, so that's it – I've got to accept it's over.

"I did have every intention of fighting back from the Achilles problem, but when you're around the 40-mark, it gets harder to motivate yourself for all that's needed to get fit again.

"There's also growing family and work demands to consider.

"My older son Finn is coming up to nine and has just been offered a contract for next year by Manchester United. No dad could be any prouder, but it's going to involve a lot of driving, and it would be a difficult balancing act, if I carried on playing.

"The club has been such a big part of my life, but I understand everything comes to an end.

"If someone had said, back in 1998, I would play nearly 700 games for Altrincham in two spells spread over 18 years, I would have said: 'Are you stupid?'

It's been great, but the Alty connection isn't over – it's just I'll be a fan now, rather than player."