HUNDREDS of fans gathered in Barmouth as the football club named a new stand after one of its most loyal servants.

A crowd of nearly 500 people amassed at Wern Mynach, the home ground of Barmouth and Dyffryn Utd FC, to see the club’s new ‘Tom Hughes stand’, floodlights and club shop unveiled.

Tom Hughes, 87, has devoted over 60 years of his life to the club and is a well-known and respected figure in the town.

Will Huntley, club chairman, paid tribute to Mr Hughes and the stand which now bears his name.

“Tom Hughes has done it all for Barmouth and Dyffryn Utd,” he said.

“He has been a player, a treasurer, manager and secretary – sometimes all at the same time.

“He kept this club going when nobody else would and we’re all eternally grateful to him.

“He has not been very well of late but was there on the night we opened the stand and the floodlights and I think it brought a tear to his eye. He was the real star of the show.”

The final score on the evening was 2-1 to Caernarfon Town CPD but a party atmosphere pervaded the evening, backed by samba band Batala Bermo and Côr Meibion Ardudwy.

The new stand, which was part-funded by Barmouth Town Council, will help the club meet new seating regulations due to come into effect in the next few years.

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