FORMER Northern Ireland international midfielder Peter Kennedy has retired from football at the age of 35.

Kennedy, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, lasted only four games at the Showgrounds following his move from Portadown on the eve of the new IFA Premiership season.

The Lisburn born player won 20 caps for his country and had a career in English football which seen him play for Notts County, Watford, Wigan Athletic, Derby County and Peterborough United over the space of ten years.

Ballymena United manager explained Kennedy’s decision; "It was always going to be a difficult situation for Peter with his job (he's training to be an accountant) and there is also an illness in the family and he couldn't make a night's training last week.

"So we sat down and had a good chat and Peter has decided it's too much for him at the minute with Saturday work and everything else that's going on.

"Peter missed a lot of pre-season training and he was finding it difficult because of that and all that was going on around him."