Jamie Bates decided to hang up his boots for one of the best reasons of all - his wife and two sons.

The former Wycombe Wanderers defender had just enjoyed a purple patch of success in a heady FA Cup run that saw them get to a semi-final against Liverpool!

But what he wanted more than success on the pitch was to see more of his family.

In the 2001/01 season the Chairboys were in the old Division Two and managed by Lawrie Sanchez.

They put out Millwall 2-1 in a replay in Round 2. In Round 3 they dispatched Division One opposition Grimsby Town 3-1 in a replay.

In Round 4 more Division One opposition was put to the sword when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1.

They came up against famed FA Cup giant killers Wimbledon in Round 5. The tie went to penalties - Bates missed his attempt - but Wycombe went through 8-7.

Premier League opposition in the form of Leicester City were beaten 2-1 at their old Filbert Street ground in the Quarter Final.

The glory run ended in the Semi Final when they fell 2-1 to Liverpool, the eventual winners.

But all the time Bates, now working for a courier firm, was thinking about the joy of family life - and taking a few more holidays.

He said: "I felt I just wanted a clean break from football. I could have gone into coaching kids but that would have made me want to keep playing.

"It wasn't a quick decision. I talked it over with my wife during the 2001 close season and I came to the conclusion that I wanted time with my kids.

"My two lads, who are now 21 and 17, were growing up fast and wouldn't be home for very long.

"Turns out they are still here. But I am still glad I did it!

"I told the manager and he asked me whether I was sure, as I had a year left. I told him I didn't want to just pick up the money.

"I took about three years out, finished off my house, and took some holidays. Then I got a job as a postman. It suited me because it was out and about - I couldn't work in an office.

"Then I started driving for the Post Office, but things changed and about 18 months ago I saw a job for a courier. I had an interview and they gave me the job."

Bates admits he misses the game but turned down an opportunity to return around six years ago.

He said: "I got a phone call from Garry Hill, who was managing Dagenham & Redbridge. It was around about the year before they went up from the Conference.

"It was on a Monday and they wanted me to play for them on the Tuesday. I thought about it, but I hadn't trained or played for years.

"I ended up telling them I couldn't. I didn't want to embarrass them or myself."

As well as his three years at Wycombe, Bates played over 500 games in a 12-year stint at Brentford - and he is still mobbed every time he returns to Griffin Park.

He added: "I was there last season and people were coming up to me and calling me a legend, which was nice to hear. They told me I should come back.

"Actually, the other day I was making a delivery at Heathrow and the security guard had a Brentford badge next to his pass.

"I mentioned it and then took off my hat. He said: 'Jamie Bates - I used to watch you years ago!' So I do still get recognised sometimes, which is nice."