Former Carlisle United midfielder Luke Joyce is bringing down the curtain on his long career – to take up a Premier League role.

Joyce, 36, will retire next month as he prepares to join Brentford as their lead north scout.

The ex-Blues player is now with Radcliffe, and his final game will come on January 6 against Workington Reds who are managed by his former United team-mate and captain Danny Grainger.

The man who made his Football League debut for Carlisle and later returned for a second spell has clocked up more than 600 senior appearances in first-team football.

Joyce said it was the right time to make the move in preparation for his next challenge.

“Wow, what a journey,” he posted on social media. “Lived my dream for the last 20 years and given absolutely everything.

“Had the honour to play for some amazing football clubs, meet some fantastic people and make life-long memories.

“Four games left before my new exciting chapter with Brentford.”

His role at Brentford comes at a club where the technical director is former United assistant manager and recruitment chief Lee Dykes.

News and Star: Joyce was initially at Carlisle from 2006-9 (pictured) before returning for a second spell from 2015-17Joyce was initially at Carlisle from 2006-9 (pictured) before returning for a second spell from 2015-17 (Image: David Hollins)

Joyce initially joined Carlisle as a teenager from his first club Wigan Athletic under Paul Simpson in 2006, and went on to play 28 times under Neil McDonald and John Ward, scoring twice.

After loans to Barrow and Northwich, he joined Accrington Stanley in 2009 and had a long-serving and highly respected six-year spell with the club, captaining the side and making 276 appearances.

Joyce then returned to Carlisle under Keith Curle in the summer of 2015 and, over three  seasons, made 143 appearances and scored three goals, including a memorable goal-of-the-season strike against Crawley Town in 2016.

After spells at Port Vale and AFC Fylde, he linked up with Radcliffe in the summer of 2022, with his team-mates at the Northern Premier League Premier Division club including his former Carlisle team-mate Nicky Adams.

He has also been running his own academy, the Luke Joyce Pro Football Academy, for several years.

In a statement, Radcliffe said: “Please join us at the Neuven Stadium on the 6th of January to help send Luke off in the best way possible.

“He will be accompanied by his family on the pitch after the game, and we’d like you to stay and show your appreciation in what will be an emotional afternoon for the Joyce family, and everyone in the Radcliffe camp.”

Workington Reds are also urging fans on January 6 to join in the tributes to a “legend of the game”.