Sumner is the new Rustington chairman

he ex-Clymping chairman was approached by now former Blues chairman John Virgoe to take over his position at the County League Division 2 club, and Sumner has said he is delighted to be back involved with local football.

Sumner quit his role as Clymping chair back in January after a number of problems at the club, that he had been a part of since the 1960s.

Virgoe will still be involved with Rustington, but has stood down as chairman after 12 years in the role and is excited for the experience Sumner will bring.

Sumner said: “I am very pleased to be involved in local football again. John has done an excellent job, and it’s not as if I’m coming into a club trying to come up the leagues, they are already an established County 2 side, so it’ll be a lot easier than at Clymping.

“Also, although there is still lots of hard work to do, Rustington have an excellent team of workers doing things here.”

Sumner is looking to work on the ground after meeting with locals and the parish council, so they can acquire the required grading for Division 2. He has also confirmed that Brett Torode and Vic Short will continue to run the first team next season.

Sumner is now very much looking to the future and on his aims, he said: “A top seven or six finish would be very good and maybe a cup final, they’re always nice!

“We are hoping to get in touch with the Rustington Otters and set up a link with them, so from the junior teams there they can step up into the reserve side we have when they are ready.

“For the ground we need a meeting with the local people and the council so we can push the club on.”

Virgoe, who before his 12 year tenure as chairman was club treasurer for 19 years, added: “I have been doing it for quite a long time, and I have know Frank for a while, so when he finished at Clymping I approached him to take over here.

“I will carry on working with the club and I can concentrate on doing things working for our ground grading. Everyone seems happy so it’s another step in the right direction for the club.”

n Brett Neal was the big winner at the club’s end-of-season awards bash. He claimed the players’ player, manager’s player and supporters’ player gongs.

Matt Huckett’s 18 goals won him the golden boot award. While George Sayers was the young player of the year and Guy Peters, the second team’s player of the year.