Armthorpe Welfare have a new chairman after Steve Taylor stepped down on Monday evening following sixteen years in the position and 33 years at the club.

Taking over from Taylor is Lee Carmody, who joined the club's management committee last year.

Taylor first joined Welfare as a player from Spalding United in 1984, being part of the Welfare side that were NCEL Division One Central champions. He then took over as club captain and subsequently as player/manager in 1987 and was in charge as Welfare when they were Premier Division runners-up to Emley in 1987/88.

In 1990, Taylor stepped down as manager but continued playing until 1996 after when he joined the club's committee. Following the unfortunate passing of the previous chairman, Alan Bell, Taylor replaced him in 2001 and had been at the helm of the club ever since.

Taylor said: "Thanks to everyone I've had the pleasure of working with at the club. I've enjoyed every minute of it but now's the time for someone else to take the club forwards. Best of luck to Lee and everyone in the future."

Taylor won't be severing links entirely with the club as he has accepted an honorary member position.

On his appointment, new chairman Carmody said: "I would like to thank the committee for the opportunity to help guide the future of this historic grass roots football club. Also, on behalf of everyone at the club, I'd like to thank Steve Taylor for his efforts during his time as chairman.

"I grew up in Doncaster, the son of a skilled and well respected semi-professional footballer (and a proud miner) desperately wishing I had inherited my father's footballing prowess - sadly I hadn't! - all those skills went to my younger brothers!

"I have, however, always been an avid follower of local football and when my younger brother Michael took over the first team manager's role at Armthorpe Welfare FC, a club our family has had long standing connections with and holds a special place in our footballing hearts, I couldn't have been more pleased for the team.

"Mike is an enthusiastic, skilled coach - a man with a natural footballer's mind with some real ambition and drive. It has, of course, been a difficult couple of seasons and it would be wrong to say that we didn't have a huge challenge ahead.

"That said, what we do have is a core squad of players who will battle through these challenging times with pride in their club - add to this, a dedicated committee and group of volunteers who consistently give up their time for the best interests of the football club and we can only be positive for the future.

"The 'Wellie' can and should be the heart of the community and I am committed to continuing the hard work Steve Taylor, our outgoing chairman, has done over many, many years.

"Our immediate challenge is of course to finish the season as strongly as we are able before setting our sights on a successful 2017/18 campaign.

"The Toolstation NECL Premier Division presents us with a great level of football and we know it's where we deserve to showcase our skills. We have a top class playing surface and have some great ideas and plans to make some improvements around the ground.

"I am obviously keen to achieve some short term successes but, from a committee point of view, a long term strategy to success is vital. I am looking forward to building positive relationships with the club officials, sponsors and the league and hope our loyal fans continue to bring their support.

"Running a club at this level does bring with it some considerable costs and overstretching ourselves is not what we want to do - we are now looking for individuals or businesses to take up some attractive sponsorship opportunities and we are hoping to attract the crowds back to Church Street.

"I do want to wish the management team and squad good luck for the rest of the season and I would like to say I'm proud to be associated with one of the most enduring clubs in the league."