A former Football League forward who has played for two Kent clubs this season has retired.

Jason Banton has opted to hang up his boots, aged just 30.

He started the season at Isthmian South East Sittingbourne before he joined Herne Bay in late October.

The much-travelled player was at another relegation-threatened Isthmian Premier outfit, Brightlingsea, from early December and last played for them at the end of February.

On Twitter on Tuesday, he wrote: “I’ve decided to hang my boots up. Short and sweet!

“It’s been a pleasure.”

Banton came through the youth ranks at Arsenal and was a young professional with Liverpool, Leicester and Crystal Palace before making more than 50 appearances over two spells with Plymouth.

He also counts MK Dons and Wycombe among his former Football League clubs.

His Palace first-team debut came in a goalless draw off the bench against Stoke in the FA Cup in January 2013.

At Sittingbourne, he made seven appearances - three off the bench - before seven starts for the Winch’s Field outfit, the last of which ironically came in a 1-1 home draw against Brightlingsea.