Record appearance maker and club captain Sam Clarke has left AFC Sudbury.

Clarke, after making 387 appearances and scoring 39 goals for the club has, after discussions with AFC boss Mark Morsley, been released from his contract.

Clarke an extremely popular player at King’s Marsh, joined from Gt Wakering Rovers at the start of the 2008/09 season and has been a regular in the team in each of the following ten seasons.

In October 2010 having been vice-captain he took over the captain’s armband that he proudly wore again this season.

In the 2012/13 season he missed a lot of it through injury however at the end of it he was awarded the club’s Merit Award.

The 2015/16 season saw him guide his team to winning the Ryman North Championship and he was honoured to collect the trophy on the club’s behalf. he also won the Manager’s Player of the Year Award. After a season in the Ryman Premier League he returned at the start of this season, showing his loyalty, after many left.

In September this year he broke the long-standing club appearances record and it seems likely he will be the holder of it for some considerable time to come.

Morsley said: “Sam is one of the most passionate and committed players I’ve worked with and also is a really good lad.

“This decision is one that we have come to jointly and there’s no issues; it’s a football matter that is right for both parties.

“Sam will go to a new club and he’ll be as much a key player at that club as he has been at Sudbury.”

On a day of activity at King’s Marsh, Morsley has signed striker Max Booth on a month’s loan, from Needham Market, while Joe Maybanks has left.