DEPARTED Tadcaster Albion midfielder Jonathan Greening was hailed by boss Paul Marshall for his role in helping the club reach the Northern Counties East League premier division summit.

The former Manchester United, Middlesbrough and West Brom player has taken up a development role at York City's academy - returning to where his career first began - and that will stop him turning out on Saturdays for the Ings Lane club.

Greening served the first of a three match suspension in the Brewers' 3-0 win over Heanor Town last Saturday and had joined the club, to huge national publicity, back in September.

Scoring a hat-trick in Tadcaster's 10-0 win at Armthorpe Welfare, the 35-year-old Premier League stalwart also produced a virtuoso last ten minutes to help his side secure a 2-1 win at Albion Sports as he performed alongside brother Josh.

"He has been brilliant for the club," said Marshall. "It has been great having him on our books and he has been great on and off the field. He has helped raise the profile of the club. We had a drink with him on Saturday and he is still going to be registered so who knows?

"He was an outstanding signing and he had one of his most inspirational ten minutes of football against Albion Sports. He played a massive part in getting us where we are and we wish him all the best.

"Hopefully, everyone else can carry on. We have got a good squad of players and Jonno was a big part of that. The lads are all stepping up, though, so it is not a problem."

Greening said: "I really, really enjoyed playing for Taddy. I am really thankful to the guys there, and the chairman. I really enjoyed it but I wanted to get into coaching and I am really happy this (York academy job) has come up.

"The people down there are great. The lads are a really good bunch. Hopefully they will get promoted."