Tributes pour in TNS president 'Spider', 72
Tributes were paid today to New Saints Football Club president Mike Hughes, who died after a short illness.
Mr Hughes, who was also known by his nickname of Spider, was a driving force behind the success of the Oswestry club, from its days in Llansantffraid before moving to the Park Hall Stadium.
The 72-year-old was widely known in football circles throughout Wales, and was a tireless ambassador for the club over the years.
He leaves his wife Anne, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
"It is a very sad day as our president and my good friend Michael Hughes has passed away," said the club's owner and chairman Mike Harris.
"He was a great friend to me and it was his hard work that started The New Saints and inspired me to join. He was instrumental in establishing the club during its Llansantffraid days into what it is today and worked tirelessly to ensure that the club he loved so much was always able to compete with the best."
Ian Williams, the club's chief operating officer, described Mr Hughes as "a true friend who loved the club."
Tributes also flooded in from other football teams including Airbus UK Broughton, Rhyl FC and CaernarfonTown, as well as from the Show Racism the Red Card charity.
