Paul Rogers will call time on his playing career at the end of the season.

The former Albion skipper is packing up at the age of 43.

It will bring to an end a career spanning nearly 30 years which started and finished in non-league, took in Wembley and the top flight of English football in between.

Rogers has made 11 appearances, including eight starts, for Worthing this season and has helped them challenge for a play-off position in Ryman division one south but he feels the time is right to hang up his boots.

He joined Worthing in August 2003 after retiring from professional football following Albion's relegation from what is now the Championship and has been a great servant to the Rebels, helping out with coaching for the last three seasons and playing for the reserves when needed.

He said: "I was playing for Worthing reserves in the Sussex reserves cup the other day. There was Andy Alexander who was 26 or 27 and everyone else was 19 or below. When you are 23 years older than almost everyone else it is time to give up.

"I have not played many games this year and not many last year. They have a good group of players together and it is time for me to concentrate on other things."

The word legend is used a bit too loosely these days but Rogers' contribution to Albion's revival around the time of the Millennium should never be underestimated. He captained the Seagulls to back-to-back championships in 2001 and 2002 and still works for the club as commercial manager.

But the midfielder's career highlights are not confined to his time in Sussex. Far from it.

Rogers first came to prominence as part of the Sutton United side that knocked Coventry City out of the FA Cup at Gander Green Lane in 1989, a day when goalscorers Tony Rains and Matt Hanlan became household names.

His call to the professional game came three years later when Sheffield United, who were playing in what is now the Premiership, offered a chance to the 26-year-old.

Rogers played in the top flight for the Blades for three years and had spells with Notts County and Wigan before heading to Sussex as part of Micky Adams' Albion revolution.

He said: "One of the biggest highlights at Sutton was the FA Cup win against Coventry. I can't believe that was nearly 20 years ago. I sat down the other day and watched the game with my lad. He couldn't believe the goalkeeper could pick up the ball from a backpass.

"I had a great time at Sutton. We won the Isthmian League a couple of times and it was with Sutton that I won my England non-league caps.

"I was with them for nearly ten years and then I moved up to Sheffield United which came out of the blue as I was 26 coming up to 27.

"That was the highlight of my pro career playing in the top flight. After watching all those players on telly, a month later I was playing at the likes of Anfield and Old Trafford. I also played in the FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley.

"I then had a year at Notts County before joining Wigan at the start of Dave Whelan's reign. We won the Third Division championship and played in the Auto Windscreens final at Wembley when I got a fluky winner in the last minute."

Rogers joined Albion in 1999 and soon became a hit with fans. When his time was up with the Seagulls - on the field at least - he wanted to carry on playing.

He said: "After being outdoors every day for 11 years I suddenly found myself behind a desk so it gave me a release to go training on Tuesdays and Thursdays and to play on Saturdays."

Worthing expect their biggest crowd of the season for tomorrow's visit of leaders Dover.