Nigel Johnson, who has often been described as 'the voice of Stoke City' has announced he will retire from BBC Radio Stoke at the end of the football season in May. 

Now 80-years-old, Nigel has worked at BBC Radio Stoke for 54 years and commentated on Stoke for the last 44.

He has commentated on more than 2,000 games including Stoke's 2008 promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and their FA Cup Final appearance in 2011.

Speaking on BBC Radio Stoke, he said: "I shall be finishing commentating at the end of this season. 

"I've been with Radio Stoke now for 54 years and I've been very fortunate because my professional career was as a teacher but to have been able to broadcast in parallel to that, many people would give their right arm to have had the opportunities that I've been given in life."

"It's not been an easy decision, the commentaries are fine, I feel comfortable with that, it's the physicalities now of the job - climbing up steps to get to the commentary positions and when you come down you've got no handrail."

He says he hopes he can still come and watch Stoke City without the pressure of the microphone (Sarah Garner).

When the news was announced earlier this week, listeners flooded Twitter with well wishes.

Another local legend, Martin Tideswell, wrote: "A local broadcasting legend, a stalwart of the Sir Stanley Matthews Foundation and the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sports Awards - and a thoroughly decent bloke."

Stoke City podcast, Every Step Along The Way, wrote: "Couldn't beat Nige and his commentary growing up. Before the days of streaming it's how most of us followed the team when not being able to attend. Thank you Nige and all the best!"

Listen to Nigel's full announcement on BBC Sounds.