Former Carlisle United midfielder Gary Dicker has hung up his boots.

The 35-year-old, who played for the Cumbrians from 2014-16, announced his retirement yesterday.

The decision brings down the curtain on a career which also included spells at Stockport County, Brighton & Hove Albion, Rochdale, Crawley Town and Kilmarnock.

Dicker was latterly an over-age player with Brighton's Under-23s alongside a coaching role with the Premier League club.

He has now called time on his playing days and tweeted: "Officially retired and hanging up the boots.

"A big thank you to all the clubs, fans, players, staff and managers I’ve played with and played for.

"I’ve lived the dream….doing something I’ve loved day in, day out. Thank you."

Dicker's most memorable moment in a United shirt was his solitary goal for the Cumbrians - an impressive volley against Plymouth Argyle in April 2015 which helped seal Football League survival.

He made 50 appearances for the Brunton Park club after joining under Graham Kavanagh in the summer of 2014.

Dicker found himself out of favour under Kavanagh's successor Keith Curle and, along with others including Billy Paynter, became embroiled in a controversial episode over extra training which saw the exiled players consult the Professional Footballers' Association.

Both Dicker and Paynter returned to the side to score in the crucial home game against Plymouth.

While striker Paynter left that summer, Dicker forced his way back into favour under Curle the following season and his outings included an impressive showing in United's valiant 1-1 League Cup draw at Liverpool, the Irish midfielder also scoring in Carlisle's penalty shoot-out defeat.

His final game for the Blues was the FA Cup fourth round defeat to Everton at a packed Brunton Park, before he moved north of the border with Kilmarnock, where he went on to captain the side in a four-and-a-half year spell.

He has been back at Brighton - a club he helped win the 2010/11 League One title - since last summer.