PORTLAND United winger Ed Bastick admitted it had been an “honour” to serve the Blues, revealing he has likely played the final competitive match of his career.

Bastick, who has made over 150 appearances for the islanders, is joining the Metropolitan Police after nearly four years at HM Prison Guys Marsh in Shaftesbury.

Former Dorchester Town speedster Bastick had planned to leave Portland following the conclusion of the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division in the summer.

However, the midfielder has been prevented from saying his goodbye on the pitch due to the FA voiding all Step 3 to 7 leagues amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The developments mean that Bastick’s final game for the Blues was the 6-1 League Cup quarter-final win over Totton & Eling in early March.

Speaking to Echosport, Bastick said Portland had “always been a club I’ve loved to play for.”

“I must have started there when I was 16, 17 once I left Weymouth Sports,” recalled Bastick.

“I went up with Rambo (Chris Hicks) and Simon Austin and played with the reserves.

“Straight away, Gary (Bailey) put me into the first team and it’s always been a club I’ve loved to play for – it’s an honour.

“It’s especially sad because I haven’t managed to say a proper goodbye. It’s a club that’s always been close to my heart and I’ve always put in 100 per cent for.

“It’s a shame I’ve got to leave and it’s not just leaving Portland it’s the last ever competitive game of football, probably, that I’m going to play.”

Bastick explained the idea of not playing competitively again seemed “strange”.

“With the shift patterns I’ve got to go out there and throw 100 per cent into that,” he said.

“I’m not going to be able to play at a level like this because of commitment. I’ll be working weekends, night shifts and all sorts.

“If I’m going to play football, it’s probably going to be five-a-side.

“It probably hasn’t hit me yet. Thinking about it is quite strange and seems a little surreal. It is hard and I certainly will miss playing football up (at Portland), that’s for sure.”

Bastick revealed he has harboured an ambition to join the Met for a long time.

“It’s always something I wanted to do, but I’ve always felt I was a little too young to do it,” he explained.

“I think I needed to get a bit of life experience, working in prison for nearly four years I’ve seen all the tricks of the trade and I’m a little more streetwise now.

“That was one of the reasons I did eventually leave (Dorchester). I thought ‘I’m not going to stick it out’ because I knew that this was around the corner.

“It’s taken a bit longer than I thought, but my commitment would have eventually had to stop.

“With Portland it’s a lot more flexible whereas with Dorch, naturally with the higher step up, they need that commitment there.

“I knew that down the line I wouldn’t be able to offer it. For me, it seemed little point in trying to stay there.

“So (joining the Met) has been a little dream that’s always been about. Luckily, the time’s come.

“I’ve taken that step and, thankfully, I’ve been successful in everything through the process so as of May, I’ll be leaving.

“It’s bittersweet, I suppose. It’s sweet because I’m starting a new job but I’ve played my last game for Portland without knowing it.”