KEITH Semple is determined to end his days with Darwen with another Northern League championship winners' medal in his pocket.

The West Indies veteran is calling time on his career in England next weekend following seven successful years at Birch Hall, to begin a new life as a graphic artist back in his native Guyana.

But before professional Semple jets back to the Caribbean, he is looking to add to his two titles won with Darwen in 2002 and 2003.

And with two games remaining this season, the 36-year-old has a big chance of going out on a real high.

Ahead of today's clash at home to Fleetwood, third-placed Darwen are 14 points behind league leaders Morecambe and boast a game in hand.

"It would be great to win the title for a third time," said Semple. "Like all sportsmen who call it a day, it's always nice to go out on top and win the league title.

"There is not a better high to finish on. We will be trying our best.

"It's been a difficult season with the weather, players leaving and there's been a lot of times when players haven't been available to us.

"But after all that, we've still got a chance and hopefully we can do well."

Semple has spent the previous 13 summers in England, the last seven at Darwen following earlier club cricket stints in Yorkshire and Staffordshire.

And the popular all-rounder admits his best times were in 2002 and 2003, when he was part of a strong Darwen unit that romped to back-to-back titles.

Semple added: "I've won the title twice here already and the club had won it a few years before I came here.

"We've always been pretty close since 1999 and that's not been a bad run.

"I would say in 2003 we were at our strongest. We had a core of players who had come through the club and learned their trade together.

"They were then ready to win the league. We were all playing really well, guys like Gareth Cordingley, Andrew Mercer and Jeff Hacking."

He continued: "Since then, we've lost a few players like Neil Cordingley who was a very good player for us.

"But even though we've kept a few players from that side, we've moved on and it's changed around a bit.

"We've perhaps not been as focused and as dedicated as that side, but we are still a good enough team and one of the strongest teams in the league.

"Hopefully, we can finish the season by winning the championship."

Semple is heading back to the West Indies for family reasons, but admits Darwen will always have a special place in his heart.

He said: "I've enjoyed it and I'm grateful to everyone here.

"It's a great club and everyone wants to work hard and do well.

"But I've finished my graphic design course and I'm looking to start a career in that back in the Caribbean.

"Sometimes it's difficult to find a new career after cricket, but I'm lucky in that I've got something that I enjoy doing as much as playing cricket."