Nottinghamshire Cricket Association wound up after 105 years

Nottinghamshire Cricket Association, the body responsible for running the county's recreational club game for more than a century, has been wound up.

Members of the association voted at a special meeting to further integrate the game in the county by joining forces with the Nottinghamshire Cricket Board.

Prior to the decision the two organisations had run in parallel with separate committees but now the association's recreational duties will be carried out by a newly formed committee of the NCB called the Recreational Council.

Ron Lafbery, NCA Secretary for the last 27 of its 105-year history, has been elected secretary of the new council.

He said: "The council will continue to serve the recreational game just as the association has in the past but we will now have a direct connection to the Board which in turn has a direct link with the ECB.

"Having been involved with NCA for so long and knowing that it is one of the oldest in the country, I did have some nostalgic feelings about winding it up.

"However, I am convinced this move will only benefit cricket in Nottinghamshire and is for the common good."

Chairman of the NCB Barry Pailing is also right behind the move stating: "This is a further indication that cricket in Nottinghamshire from the county team through to the playground is being drawn closer together.

"The recreational game is being brought under the wing of the board. It's the right step to take and I'm glad the association has decided it no longer wants to operate as a separate entity."

Former NCA Chairman Geoff Gooch is Chairman of the new Recreational Council and he said: "It's a good move in all sorts of ways because cricket in Nottinghamshire has become one.

"The decision was inevitable and we just could not carry on as we were. A lot of people feel sorry about the demise of such a historic organisation but it's the right decision."