A FOOTBALL club has paid tribute to two volunteers who have given nearly 60 years’ service between them.

The long-standing members of Portslade Athletic Football Club (PAFC) are former chairman Cliff Emberlin and president John Aylward.

They are stepping down after 20 and 39 years respectively at the club.

With the decline of grass roots 11-a-side football, the club said it wants to take the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of both members.

PAFC held an awards ceremony this year to commemorate the service of the two “club legends”.

Mr Emberlin, 61, from Shoreham, used to play for the club which was founded in 1949.

The accountant said: “It has been a pleasure serving this club and I hope that it will continue to try to increase participation in the sport locally.

“The club used to have four teams and now sadly we are down to just two men’s teams.

“During my time at the club, we have had many great successes that I will always treasure, including winning many league titles and cup competitions.

“I stopped playing when I was about 40 and became more involved in the organisational side of club matters.

“It is a shame to have to step down but the club needs the younger generation to take it forward.”

The club’s teams, which have played at the Victoria Recreation Ground in Portslade since 1949, are now on the lookout for more players to keep the club alive in the coming years.

Rob Ingham, 32, from Kemp Town, has stepped up as the new chairman. He said the key to keeping the club going was to encourage more people to get involved in grass roots football on a Saturday.

The PhD student said: “Without selfless people like Cliff and John at the club, we just wouldn’t be able to survive.

“They really have carried out vital work in their many years, always going beyond their usual responsibilities to make sure it functions in the best way possible.

“I now have to focus on the long-term plans for the club and look to the future but we would not have got this far without them and for that reason I know everyone at the club will be forever grateful.

“We need to grow our membership to keep moving forward and I know that we can do that.

“We just need support to keep on developing and I am sure that Cliff and John will still be familiar faces around the club.

“They will always be welcome here and I know all of the players don’t want to see them leave.”