Guy Branston spent two spells on loan at Layer Road from Leicester City - each either side of the U's promotion to Division Two in 1998 - playing a total of 15 games, scoring one goal.

After returning to Leicester, he spent spells on loan at Plymouth Argyle, Rushden & Diamonds, Lincoln City and Rotherham United, before making a permanent move to the Millers for a fee of £50,000.

He spent five years at Millmoor, helping Rotherham to successive promotions in 2000 and 2001. In his final season with the Millers he had spells on loan at Wycombe Wanderers and Peterborough United, before leaving at the end of the season to join Sheffield Wednesday, having made 116 appearances, scoring 13 goals.

His spell at Wednesday was brief, initially being loaned out to Peterborough United, before a permanent move to Oldham Athletic in February 2005. He spent just over a season at Oldham, making 49 appearances and scoring two goals, moving to Peterborough again for a third spell, this time permanently in July 2006.

While he was initially a regular for the Posh, he was later shipped out on loan to Rochdale and Northampton Town, before being released by mutual consent in December 2007. He joined Notts County on a one-month contract in early 2008.

He dropped into non-league football, joining Kettering Town in the Conference North in February 2008. They won the league title and he remained with them the following season in the Conference. After a £10,000 transfer to Torquay fell though, he joined Burton Albion in League Two on a free transfer in July 2009, leaving Kettering having made 60 appearances.

After half a season at Burton, he joined Torquay United on loan, and then moved permanently to the club then managed by former U's player and ex-teammate Paul Buckle.

He left the Gulls at the end of the 2010/11 season when Paul Buckle moved to Bristol Rovers and turned down contract offers by Torquay and Rovers to join Bradford City.

Following a season with the Bantams, including a brief spell on loan at former club Rotherham United, he then joined Aldershot Town in June 2012. With first team opportunities limited at the Shots, he joined Bristol Rovers on loan, linking up with Mark McGhee who had managed him at Leicester. Upon his return from loan he was released from his contract at Aldershot by mutual consent.

He joined Plymouth Argyle (another of his previous clubs) in January last year, initially until the end of the season, but went on to earn a one-year deal. He was released this summer at the end of his contract and has now decided to retire at the age of 35.

In his 16-year career he played for 19 different clubs, making 481 senior appearances (465 starts) and scoring 25 goals.

Clubs since leaving the U's: Plymouth Argyle, Rushden & Diamonds (loan), Lincoln City (loan), Rotherham United, Wycombe Wanderers (loan), Peterborough United, Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham Athletic, Rochdale (loan), Northampton Town (loan), Notts County, Kettering Town, Burton Albion, Torquay United, Bradford City, Aldershot Town, Bristol Rovers (loan).

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This article was originally published on 21st December 2011 and last updated on 5th July 2014.

Photo: Action Images

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