IRVINE Victoria record goalscorer Kevin Adam has called time on his playing career.
The remarkable number nine has made the decision to retire following his 14th season at the North Ayrshire outfit.
He bows out as a true club legend having made 418 appearances for the Victoria Park side.
Adam enjoyed two spells with the Vics, first joining in 2009 before departing a decade later for Dalry Thistle then moving onto Craigmark Burntonians.
Though the striker returned in 2022 with only one thing in mind, breaking the clubs goalscoring record.
At the time, he was just 12 short of Andy Clarkson's tally of 144 - a total he smashed out of the park just one campaign following his return.
With a further three seasons under his belt since then, Adam has notched 204 goals and decided now is the time to call it a day.
He ran out for Irvine Victoria one last time on Saturday, May 16, as his side lost 2-0 to Vale of Leven on the final day of the WoSFL Fourth Division season.
“The first time [I left] I was never going to retire," Adam commented. "I always kind of knew I was going to go back.
“It’s different now because I’m done. My body is telling me I’d done, there was really no option now. I was picking up silly injuries and I wasn’t healing properly.
"I missed near enough the last three months of the season there. I rushed back just to play the last couple of games. I probably shouldn’t have, but I did.
“I’ve only had one weekend without it, I know I’ll miss it, but I’m happy because I know it’s time.
“Although I believe I could still play, I’m getting older, I feel 37. It’s just getting harder.”
Though Adam leaves Victoria Park with absolutely no regrets from a memorable 14-season spell.
He added: “I’m definitely proud of what I’ve done, I’ll look fondly on it for as long as I can remember.
“I’ll still be going down to watch them. I know I just finished playing but [the club] are more than that now.
“It’s weird now that I know I won’t be going back into the changing room, it’s a weird feeling.”
The record-breaker admits it's a career he didn't quite see coming when he first joined in 2009.
He had played only one season at junior level prior, a campaign with Johnstone Burgh following his release from his local club St Mirren.
Adam continued: “When I got released from St Mirren, I had to take a bit of time off because I was injured. Because I knew someone at Johnstone Burgh, I just went down there for a season.
“I left and I didn’t think anything of it then someone caught me in Asda and said my manager wants to speak to me.
“I went down to speak to him and I signed, I didn’t really think I would be there that long.
“When I first went down, I enjoyed it, it just felt right whenever I was there. Those two seasons I left, it was never the same.
“It just felt right, it felt like the right place to be and play. I could have left for bigger clubs, but I didn’t want to. I was just happy there.”
He also retires with memories which will last a lifetime. Most, unsurprisingly, related to his goalscoring exploits.
Adam commented: “There are a few memories, winning the league is obviously up there and winning the Marymass at Victoria Park when I scored a double to seal it.
“I’ll always remember scoring my 100th goal at Lugar away, then I broke the record at Carluke.
“Then getting my 200th, that was a good feeling. After that I got injured, I was glad to get that – it was starting to loom over me a wee bit.”
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