Copany have suffered an early season blow as Thomas Given announced his retirement from football today due to personal reasons.

Thomas has proven to be a loyal and talented member of this Copany side for many a long year, and this will be a decision he will have not taken lightly.

The early ninetys were without doubt the most memorable as a Copany player for Thomas, where he was part of the Copany sides that won back-to-back promotions under John Joe Travers, and then in the 93/94 season, he played in the Copany side that won the Area final of the Sportsman Cup, over the reigning Donegal League champions Ardara Town.

They reached the final of the Sportsman Cup that year, meeting the all-conquering Drumkeen United side who had already won the Donegal League and the FAI Junior Cup, and Thomas netted in that final where they lost by the narrowest of margins.

Thomas will be best remembered as a free scoring midfielder, who always wore his heart on his sleeve. Everybody at Copany wishes him all the best in the future, but deep-down hope this retirement will not be the end for Thomas Given and Copany Rovers F.C.