HE has spent the last 19 years playing senior rugby league for the club, but Queanbeyan Blues stalwart Phil Stonham has hung up the boots after his men won the reserve grade grand final last month.
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And to give him even more reason to celebrate, the 37-year-old was named man-of-the-match in his side's 22-14 victory over the West Belconnen Warriors at Seiffert Oval.
He won four first grade premierships with the club between 1995 and 2008, and has seen the club during one of its best periods in its 85-year history throughout the 2000s.
After the 2008 title he decided to settle his football down by playing in the reserve grade side, and has now won two premierships with them.
He said age had started wearying him, and that after years of contemplating retirement, said he needed to finally call time on his career.
"I'm 37 now, so it's time to hang it up, and it's a good time to go out with a grand final, so that's the end of me," he said.
It is easy to see how much the east-Queanbeyan club means to Stonham, with his left forearm proudly displaying a tattoo of each premiership he has won alongside the club's logo.
He said the Blues had, and will continue to be, a "massive part" of his life.
"It's a great club to represent, and it's been a pleasure to play for them really," Stonham said.
"We got beaten last year when we should've won, so I'm going out on the ultimate high by winning today."
"Time will tell as to whether I'll be able to still be heavily involved at the club. I'm getting stuck into my kids' footy now, but I'll always be around in some capacity."
Stonham said the professionalism of the club had lifted since first grade coach Simon Woolford came in, and hoped its link between juniors and seniors continued to grow strongly.