THORNBURY Town have lost charismatic manager Dave Wiffill, who is taking a break from football.

His three years at the helm, along with joint manager Steve Burbage, have brought Town the Bristol Combination title and taken them up into the County League, where they have consolidated over the past two seasons, at times pressing for honours.

This season they finished in seventh place and also won the Stroud Charity Cup.

Wiffill has had a chequered career. He was offered an apprenticeship at Bristol City at the age of 16 but declined so he could take his A Levels, though he played reserve team football for them.

Then it was off to Frome Town where he was involved with the team that won the Western League under manager Bob Boyd. It was at Frome that he was converted from a midfielder into a centre forward.

A move to Bath followed in 1979 and after three months he was sold to Manchester City for £50,000 - at that time the highest fee paid for a non-league player, and a record that stayed in place for a number of years.

He played for City's reserve team, though he did make the bench for the firsts on a couple of occasions.

The highlight at this time was a tour to America to play in a competition involving Vancouver Whitecaps, New York Cosmos and Memphis Rogues.

He remained with Manchester City under legendary manager Malcolm Allison until John Bond took over, before jetting off to Hong Kong where he spent an enjoyable four years playing for Happy Valley.

Then it was back to Blighty and Bristol Rovers under Gerry Francis. "I did not play too well and was not really enjoying it so I took a break from football during 1987," said Wiffill.

A move to Gloucester City followed, then a trial for a Dutch first division team was offered where he would have been playing alongside Aston Villa icon Tony Morley if successful. "But it fell through when I broke my jaw," said Wiffill, "and I returned to Bath City for a couple of seasons before spending two years with Stroud (now Forest Green Rovers)."

A move to Thornbury followed, as a player for eight years before taking over as manager, with Steve Burbage assisting and then coming on board as joint manager. Wiffill was full of praise for Burbage, saying: "Steve has had much input and involvement in running the side and he is a great motivator."

With a record such as his, you can forgive Dave Wiffill for feeling that a break from football is now in order.

"I am of an age now," said Wiffill, 45, "when there are other priorities in my life but I would like to think I will be involved again some time in the future and feel I'm leaving the club with an excellent squad of players, blending experience with youth."