FORMER Colchester United midfielder Alan Judge has brought the curtain down on a successful 20-year career after announcing his retirement.
The 36-year-old, who had most recently been playing his football at fellow National League side Braintree Town, has decided to call time on an impressive career which saw him also play for the likes of Ipswich Town and Brentford.
Judge made 55 league and cup appearances for Colchester, during his time at the JobServe Community Stadium.
The former Republic of Ireland international was released by the U’s at the end of the 2022-23 season after two years with the club, made six appearances for the Iron, this season.
Writing on his Instagram account, Judge said: ‘After 20 years in professional football since I moved to England, I’ve decided it’s time to hang up the boots. ❤️⚽️
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‘Football has been my life since I was a kid, and I’ve been lucky enough to live out my dream for so many years. From the highs to the setbacks, the dressing rooms, the fans — every bit of it has meant something to me.
‘I’m proud of what I achieved, but even more proud of the journey. I’ve come through some major injuries that could’ve ended my career, along with other setbacks along the way, but with my inner strength, discipline, the right people and family around me, I came back each time. Those moments showed me what resilience is. 💪
Wishing you all the best in your retirement, @10judgey ❤️🐝 pic.twitter.com/jJENnLSOOC
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) November 3, 2025
‘To my wife Emma — thank you for everything. You’ve been my rock through it all. The support, the sacrifices, the patience, and the love you’ve shown me, especially through the lows… I’ll never be able to thank you enough. None of this would’ve been possible without you. ❤️
‘To my Mam (RIP), Dad, sisters and my kids — thank you for always believing in me and being there every step of the way.
‘Representing my country at senior level will always be my proudest moment — one I’ll never forget. All any Irish kid dreams of doing is to pull on that green jersey and represent their country. 🇮🇪
‘To every teammate, manager, coach, staff member and fan I’ve met along the way — thank you for being part of my story.
‘Although my playing days have come to an end, I’m excited for what’s next — hopefully passing on my experiences of what it takes to make it in the game.
‘I’ve had more or less everything happen to me in football that can happen, and I hope to use that to help younger players coming through. 🙏
‘A new chapter begins — where it takes me, we’ll see. Judgey ❤️⚽️’
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