ANOTHER former Rhyl FC staff member has made a return to football with a new club.

Richard Williams-Cooke, who worked as an assistant under Eddie Maurice-Jones until resigning from his position in January, has agreed to join Cefn Albion in a player-coach capacity.

This represents a significant coup for the ambitious club, with Williams-Cooke widely regarded as one of the best players the region has ever produced.

He enjoyed a standout playing career with the likes of Bala Town, Newton and Denbigh Town, and this experience made a smooth transition over to management.

His first job at Denbigh saw them secure promotion to the Huws Gray Alliance after a memorable double-winning campaign where they went unbeaten to clinch the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance Division One crown.

This was followed by spells at the helm of Chirk AAA and Oswestry Town before joining close friend Maurice-Jones at Denbigh, steering them to second position in the Huws Gray Alliance. A move to Rhyl followed prior to the 2018/19 season.

Williams-Cooke stepped down in the New Year due to increasing work and family commitments, but he has now agreed to take on a new challenge a little closer to home.

He said: “Cefn Albion is a football club I've kept an eye on and admired for a long time.

“It's apparent that the club has a really strong family and community feel and that is something I have missed, probably since I was the manager of Denbigh Town.

“I already know a lot of people at the club and now that it's all confirmed in Comet I'm looking forward to starting and passing on things I've learnt over the years.

“Hopefully I can make a positive impact and help the club push forward in the new North East Tier 3 League."