Lancaster City’s Paul Jarvis to retire at end of the season 

Lancaster City player Paul Jarvis has announced he will retire the end of the season.

Jarvis, 34, predominantly a left back, has had four separate spells at The Giant Axe, his current one starting in 2022. 

His first spell at Lancaster came in 2009, after he started his professional career at Morecambe, before moving to Tiverton. 

Chorley and Fylde were among the clubs he played for in-between spells at Lancaster.

Last season and earlier this season, Jarvis spent time at North West Counties Football League side Kendal Town on dual registration. 

Kendal’s players, staff and fans were left stuck on the Isle of Man earlier this year due to inclement weather after playing a league game over there.

That experience partly triggered his decision to return to Lancaster City full-time.

Speaking on the ‘How Did Town Get On?’ podcast, Jarvis said: “When I’d made the decision that I was going to finish this year, I wanted to finish it with my hometown club.

“I said to Teaguey [Andrew Teague, former Lancaster captain and caretaker manager] that I was just happy here, carrying on really.

“That Isle of Man trip was a trip from hell and [there was] frustration on the pitch, it’d be a recurring thing where we’d play well but we’d end up throwing it away late on in games.”

He went on to say: “I spoke to Chris Willcock [current Lancaster manager], he was keen to get me back in.

“It was refreshing really, someone new coming in who has got no preconceptions or favourites, he just saw me as a really experienced player who would be versatile and a player he could have in the squad. 

“It’s been good to come back in and I’ve certainly had more of an opportunity and game time and than I did under Felly [Mark Fell].”

Jarvis has made one start and a number of substitute appearances since Willcock’s arrival in January. 

His other start this season was in the first round of the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy against National League side AFC Fylde in September.

In that game, he scored twice in three minutes to turn the game around and take City through to the next round of the competition.

Paul Jarvis’ last game at The Giant Axe is set to be this Saturday (April 6) when Lancaster host Gainsborough Trinity.