GARETH Ainsworth said he was able to keep his emotions in check as he played his last ever game of professional football this afternoon.

The 39-year-old is well known for wearing his heart on his sleeve both on the pitch, by chasing down every lost cause, and off it by giving rousing, passionate post match interviews.

He admitted that earlier in the week he might have been reduced to tears at the prospect of playing his 600th and final game against his former side Port Vale at a packed Adams Park – but he managed to hold it together despite several moments that could have set him off.

Firstly there was the rapturous reception that greeted his 75th minute introduction to the pitch, with all four sides of the ground rising to their feet to sing “There’s only one Gareth Ainsworth”.

Then he led his side on a post match lap of honour around a still relatively full Adams Park with his three children to the strains of the Troggs song ‘Wild Thing’ – his nickname – blasting from the PA system.

On-pitch presentations from Port Vale manager Micky Adams and Wanderers playing hero Simon Garner – the man Ainsworth wanted to emulate after watching him play for Blackburn Rovers as a boy – then followed, but the tears didn’t.

A spontaneous round of applause that greeted his post match press conference didn’t set him off either, with Ainsworth saying the thought of hanging up his boots had long since dawned on him.

He said: “It’s a weird feeling. I had a little wobble earlier before the game talking to the lads and a little wobble after the game, because I’m just honoured to have played with so many good lads and good players in my career – today included.

“It’s a wrench, it really is hard. Earlier in the week you’d have got me choked up and in tears. I’ve got used to the fact I’m retiring, so I’m OK now.

“I’m sure I will get itchy feet next year but I want to stay on the side and watch the boys and coach them as best I can. It’s the right decision.

“It was a great day and I really enjoyed it. I wouldn’t swap one minute of what I’ve been through in the last 24 years and hopefully there’s a few years ahead of me, management-wise.

“I said today I’m going to enjoy it and have a smile on my face. The way the boys played helped me enjoy it.”

He added: “They gave their all for me again. I didn’t want the day to be overshadowed by Port Vale coming here, taking over and beating us. I thought we gave a real good account of ourselves today – played really, really well.”

Port Vale have the division’s most potent attack and possess 30 goal Tom Pope, but he and the wily Lee Hughes were largely kept in check by youngster Kortney Hause and Dave Winfield.

And Ainsworth said their displays were proof that his future now lies in the manager’s dugout rather than on the pitch.

He said: “We had the top scorer in the division against a 17-year-old centre half and I thought Kortney came out on top. He was awesome.

“That leads to my retirement, I have players like that coming through and it’s time for the old ones to step aside.

“We definitely didn’t deserve to lose, without a shadow of a doubt. We might have just edged it but it’s a great result. We put a really good shift in today and it bodes well for the start of next season.”

The stage seemed set for Ainsworth to add to his career total tally of 114 goals but he spurned two late chances of a dream ending.

He said: “It would have been fairytale stuff but it doesn’t always work like that. I was just glad I could still get in there and get the opportunities.”