His decision comes after 206 games and an exceptional 142 tries, a scoring tally all the more remarkable because 32 of those appearances were as a substitute. Few players have had such a scoring rate but to do so with Batley, who do not always pile up the points, is remarkable.
Lingard said: "I have been thinking about it for a few weeks. My body is not 100 percent and I had a chat with Gary (Thornton) and Joe (Berry) about it and they told me to take my time and make sure my decision was the right one.
"I think my mind was made up when I played in the cup tie against East Hull. I was still struggling to walk on the Wednesday or Thursday after the game and I felt it was time for me to call it a day.
"I've talked it over with my wife Claire but she always knew that when I finished playing I would still be involved in rugby league in some way."
Lingard made his first appearance as a substitute in July, 1998 against Doncaster at Mount Pleasant, the week after Batley had won the Trans Pennine Cup. He became a regular the following season and scored his first try against Hunslet at The Mount and went on to score 19 tries in the season, which set the pattern for the rest of his career.
Lingard is a fully qualified coach and, as so often happens at Batley, he has been taken onto the coaching staff and will help with the first team and also assist Paul Harrison with the Reserves. He will also continue his highly-successful work with the club's community project, working with youngsters, which he finds very rewarding.
He added: "If someone said I would play for so long and play so many games I don't think I would have believed them. I was a fan myself and when I was young you always wanted a player's autograph and you were pleased if they had a chat with you. I've always tried to do that.
"People pay their money through the gate and you have to respect them for it.
"Too often people don't take a great deal of notice of Batley and that's both a good thing and a bad. The good side of it is that we can spring surprises like we did at Whitehaven on Monday.
"I have always enjoyed the banter in the dressing room and that will continue. It's all about enjoyment and I've always had that at Batley."