Fox (33) walked off Whitestone Contracting Stadium a happy man after his beloved club held off a spirited Athletic side 14-12 in a thrilling final.
In a decade as North Otago captain, Fox was always front and centre, playing hooker and leading the side in a remarkably successful era.
On Saturday, he was tucked away in Valley's second row, playing just the final, tense 10 minutes.
After the game, he celebrated with wife Rebecca and their three daughters and confirmed that was that.
"I let the boys know during the year that this was going to be my last trot," Fox told the Otago Daily Times.
"There are other things calling for me now.
"I'm going to enjoy some golf."
Fox has played for Valley, alongside schoolmates and neighbours and close friends, for 17 seasons, but has not counted how many games he has played for the club.
"I honestly don't know. Somewhere around 250-odd, 260 maybe."
Valley is a veteran team in many positions, with Fox's fellow North Otago stalwart Mike Mavor, fullback Nathan Cunningham and loose forward Blair Smith all well into their 30s.
Fox said he had decided to retire no matter what happened in the final, but it was nice to leave rugby a winner.
"I knew this was where I wanted to finish. It's a nice way to go out.
"It was pretty tense. We knew we had to stop their forward onslaught and to defend like we did, at the end of each half, showed we had some ticker."
Fox played the last of his 84 first-class games for North Otago in 2006.
His greatest moment was leading the province to the old third division NPC title in 2002.
About 800 people attended the Citizens Shield final on Saturday.
Fire officers were called late in the game after a couch was set on fire on the grass embankment.
