LOYALTY is a bit of a grubby word in football this days, but a Wendron United player has been the very definition of it in the last 20 years.

Antony Williams has completed no fewer than 600 league and cup games for the Underlane club, having joined them from Ponsanooth almost in the late 1990s.

"I came to Wendron because a lot of my school mates were playing for the club. Many of them have stopped playing or moved away now, but I've kept playing here because it's a great family-orientated club.

"The likes of Jos Bray and Peter Thorne made me feel really welcome when I first joined, they're always interested in having a chat with you. Now it's gone full circle, because I can put my arm round the youngsters and make them feel part of it," said the father-of-two, who lives in Truro.

Antony has played for all four of Wendron's men's teams and has recently signed on for their veterans' team. He has covered every position on the pitch, including a full season as goalkeeper for the first team in the Combination League, when he won the players' player of the year award.

However, his highlight was scoring a "perfect" hat-trick in a 4-0 win over local rivals Porthleven - three goals which included a header and strikes with his left and right foot.

Antony, who will turn 37 in June, is assisting third team manager Rob Noventa this season, with a view to coaching one of the men's teams when he eventually decides to stop playing.

He continues to play regularly and was on the scoresheet in their 6-0 victory over Gwinear in Division 3 of the Trelawny League on Saturday.

"I was about to come off because we haven't played for a few weeks and my legs were feeling it, but when we were awarded a penalty I couldn't resist taking it to mark my 600th game."

He added: "I've said to my wife that the day I wake up and don't get that buzz on a Saturday will be the day that I stop playing. I'd like to play two more seasons week in, week out, then see how I'm feeling after that. I've been lucky not to have ever had a serious injury.

"What I'd really like to do is have one game with my son Jack. I'll be 46 when he's old enough to play, so I'll definitely have to come out of retirement for that one!"

Antony was presented with a trophy by the club after their game on Saturday and both sets of players from Wendron's third and fourth team matches formed a guard of honour.