Steve - the decision's been taken - how do you feel?

I'm a little disappointed, obviously.  It has been a decision taken over three months really, from seeing the first specialist, who had no positive things to say.  You have to go down the road of seeing other specialists, and the final one did say that he would operate, but it can be a complicated operation. Its all been leading up to me retiring, really. I've had a dodgy back for a number of years but this is a new bulge on a lower disc and I have to think about my future.

It is clearly a painful condition?

It is painfu, more so, obviously, when I'm playing football!  I can get round it and I do have good days, when I'm not doing strenuous exercise, but football seems to be bad for it. I like heading the ball and that seems to be the worst thing you can do for a bad back! I could try to be a tricky midfielder but no: it's done.

And you're ready now to talk about it?

Yes; I've been through the heartache. It is quite humbling, to finish a career, but I'm optimistic.  I've got two great kids and a lovely wife and I'm looking forward to the future. It has been great being a player, and I've enjoyed it, but the last six months have been difficult. Waking up and not knowing whether you can train, or even walk properly - it was getting really bad at the end, to be fair. It is the best thing. I will miss it, but I'll miss how I was five or six years ago, when I was fit and running about like a kid. I won't miss the last six months.

You'll be having a benefit match?

The club have been absolutely superb and have awarded me a benefit game. The Gaffer has been superb, too; I've had nothing but support in what has been a difficult time.

What did your wife think about this?

She wanted me to finish. She's seen me in pain after games. Sometimes you can't walk for two or three days. She's been wanting me to finish for a while, to be fair.

What would you consider as a career highlight?

The promotion, obviously; playing in the Premier League for Forest, especially as a Nottingham lad. There's been some down sides but there's been a lot of good things happen at Chesterfield and I'm definitely a Chesterfield supporter now, as are my sons.

You scored a dozen goals in your career - do any stand out?

I can remember an own goal I scored at Hereford once! I was never a great goal scorer but was better at setting them up by flicking the ball on.

Never a great goalscorer? Steve scores at Hillsborough in 2004-5

And who do you rate among your defensive partners?

Ian Breckin was a top player, and I enjoyed playing with Steve Payne and Reuben Hazell. Have I missed anyone out? I've enjoyed playing with all of them!

What does the future hold?

I'm studying again and will finish a personal training diploma in February, so I may be doing some personal training in the area. I may go back to university to study sports science; I really don't know just yet. I've even thought about teaching! I'm an optimistic person and I've got many ideas!

There are nearly 300 photos of Steve in action in the Spireites World archive - here's a random selection: