PLAUDITS have been paid to Chris Venables after Penybont forward set a new top flight appearance record in midweek.

The former Llanidloes High School student from Llandinam marked his 537th game in the JD Cymru Premier with the winner as his Bridgend side prevailed 1-0 winners at home to Barry Town United.

The 38 year old is one of the most acclaimed players in the league having scored 222 goals as well as notching up Wales C appearances.

County Times: Chris Venables during his time at Caersws.Chris Venables during his time at Caersws.

Venables has earned a reputation as one of the most talented and consistent players in the league and insisted he has no plans to hang up his boots just yet despite overtaking former club-mate Wyn Thomas in the all-time appearance rankings.

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County Times: Chris Venables during his spell at Welshpool Town.Chris Venables during his spell at Welshpool Town.

He said: “I’m very, very proud to beat the record and to take the record from someone who’s so close to me as well.

“I think part of it is staying fit and me being so keen to keep on playing for as long as I can.”

County Times: Chris Venables in action for Bala Town.Chris Venables in action for Bala Town.

Venables began his Welsh pyramid career with Caersws in 2003 after his departure from Shrewsbury Town and helped the Bluebirds to League Cup glory in 2007.

Venables enjoyed a season at both Welshpool Town and Aberystwyth Town before helping Llanelli to JD Welsh Cup success in 2011.

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A return to Aberystwyth the following season saw Venables deployed as a forward and only Cristiano Ronaldo boasted a better goals per game ratio than the Powys playmaker by 2014.

County Times: Chris Venables in action for Bala Town.Chris Venables in action for Bala Town.

Venables won three Golden Boots in succession before departing for Bala Town in 2016.

Venables brought success to Maes Tegid and helped the Lakesiders lift the Welsh Cup in 2017 while netting more than a century of goals before departing in the summer.

Penybont represent Venables’ sixth JD Cymru Premier club and represented the Bridgend club in Europe in the summer.

Penybont manager Rhys Griffiths said: “He probably should have been taken into the football league a long time ago - their loss has been the Welsh Premier’s gain”