PAUL 'Gus' Mustoe may have hung up his own football boots, but it will be a proud moment when he sees AFC Sudbury playing in the semi-finals of the LB Group Suffolk FA Premier Cup tonight against Lowestoft.

Nick Garnham

PAUL 'Gus' Mustoe may have hung up his own football boots, but it will be a proud moment when he sees AFC Sudbury playing in the semi-finals of the LB Group Suffolk FA Premier Cup tonight against Lowestoft.

The Sudbury-born accountant and tax adviser, who now lives in Leavenheath, played local Border League and Eastern Counties league football for a number of years but, owing to a knee injury, 'Gus' had to pack up in his mid-twenties.

“Whilst I couldn't carry on playing at this level, I still enjoy kicking around a football with the family and I look back on my days growing up watching Sudbury Town and later playing for Sudbury Wanderers (the two teams which merged to form AFC Sudbury) very fondly. Amateur football has given me hours and hours of pleasure,” he said. “When we, at LB Group, discovered that the Suffolk FA was looking for a sponsor for the Premier Cup, I almost bit their hands off!

“I'm just delighted that we have got our company name attached to the trophy, because grass roots football is so important in so many of our communities. By sponsoring the LB Group Suffolk FA Premier Cup, I hope that we are doing our bit to keep football alive at this level and giving pleasure to a lot of spectators too,” he added.

Paul, LB Group's tax director, will be attending the Lowestoft versus AFC Sudbury fixture tonight at Woodbridge Town and the second of the semi-finals, Needham Market versus Ipswich Town Reserves on March 10 at Needham's Bloomfields ground.

The date and time of the final, due to be played at Portman Road subject to Ipswich Town's play-off hopes, has yet to be announced.