LLANDUDNO FC stalwart Clive Rushton has announced he is stepping away from the club.

The popular figure joined the set-up at Maesdu Park in 2012 and has overseen the most prolific spell in the club’s history.

He was chairman when Tudno secured an elusive promotion to the JD Cymru Premier by winning the Huws Gray Alliance title, and he was also a strong believer in bringing the club back to the heart of the community.

Rushton was also part of the club during their memorable qualification for the Europa League, which culminated in a landmark tie against Swedish giants IFK Goteborg.

His legacy is sure to live on thanks to his involvement from start to finish with the club’s thriving Academy system, which has proven to be highly beneficial and has produced plenty of senior squad members over the years.

Rushton has now decided the time is right to move on, and he will be taking a short break from football before seeking a new challenge.

A Llandudno FC spokesman, said: “Like any other grassroots football club we rely heavily on passionate, hardworking people to make our operation a successful one.

“Clive Rushton came through our doors with the objective of developing a clear pathway for players, in an accredited FAW academy, and pushing the club further towards the top tier of the Welsh pyramid.

“Fast forward only a few seasons and the club had achieved all of those things. Our academy operations are still highly regarded as one of the best in North Wales, and an established hub for local talent, thanks mainly to the tireless hours that Clive dedicated to making it what it is today, in his several roles undertaken at the club.

“Clive helped the club to achieve great success. A fantastic servant of our football club, and a great person to know, the club wishes to place on record its gratitude to Clive for his services over the years, and we sincerely wish him all the best in the future both off and on the pitch.”