DEVIZES Town stalwart Andy Coombes belatedly chalked up his 500th appearance for the club on Easter Monday and celebrated by helping his side to victory over Melksham.

The 31-year-old defender had expected his big day to be last Saturday against Welton Rovers but it turned out to only be his 499th appearance because he had miscounted.

But it was only two days later that he did make the landmark total and Coombes said it was worth the wait.

Before the game he was presented with a framed Devizes Town shirt that was embroidered with his name, total appearances and the year.

Wiltshire FA secretary Mike Benson was also on hand to award Coombes a Wiltshire FA pen and tie.

The defender said: "It was a good day and beating Melksham made it all the more nicer. "I knew something was being planned for me but I didn't expect anything like that and it was really nice. I'm not one for being in the limelight but everybody was great and it'll be a day I remember."

Coombes first represented Devizes in the U11s as a schoolboy. He admitted receiving offers to move to other clubs during his career but never felt the desire to play for anyone else except his home town club.

Coombes made his debut for the senior team in defence when he was aged just 21 and his hero was Swindon Town defender Colin Calderwood.

He said the highlight of his career was captaining Devizes Town when they won Screwfix Division One in 2000, without losing a game.

Coombes added that he could also remember the glory years when Town reached the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup, just one step away from joining the league teams in the competition.

Devizes lost 5-2 to Kingstonian, but he said he felt it was an incredible achievement considering Town was the lowest non-league side left in the competition at that stage.

Coombes, an accountant who moved from Devizes to Cepen Park North, in Chippenham three years ago, said he started playing at Devizes because it was his local club.

He played right the way through the club's youth system and has rarely missed a game since he made his debut for the club in 1993.

Coombes added: "I have no plans to retire just yet and I hopes I can carry on playing for the club. I suppose the next milestone is 600 appearances but we'll have to wait and see if I make that total.

"Devizes do have some good young, local players and I would hope that they might follow my example and stay loyal to the club."

Devizes caretaker manager Sean Moffatt paid tribute to the defender.

"He was superb on Monday as he has been throughout his Devizes career," said Moffatt.

"Andy and Kev Bush were inspirational at the back against Melksham didn't miss anything. Andy was superb again and really is Mr Reliable.

"Beating Melksham was good for us and Coomber because we didn't want to lose to them. It was fitting he made his 500th appearance in a derby."

Devizes chairman Phil Rossiter added: "It all went very well and us winning the match against Melksham was the icing on the cake.

"Andy was chuffed to bits with it all and it was also nice that he had his family down here with him to help him celebrate."