THE face of cricket in Ashford changed for the good last week with the birth of Ashford Town Cricket Club, the name that has been adopted by members following the merger between the now defunct Old Stacians and Ashford clubs.

More than 50 members from both founding clubs attended last Wednesday night’s meeting at Goat Lees Park to vote in officers for the new club, decide on the name and how the new set-up will best work for all concerned.

The meeting voted to make Graham Linkins and Paul Koronka joint chairmen, while the Goat Lees Park ground, where the newly-merged club will play their home games until a custom built ground is sourced and built, will be renamed Stacians Park in tribute to the North School oldboys side.

The new club will also decide on the design of a club crest in the next fortnight and select new colours.

On the field, Ashford’s former first-team skipper and manager Julian Day will lead the newly- merged club.

Mr Linkins said: "It was a very positive meeting. The new name surprised a few and it was the dark horse that came up on the rails but it went through with 33 voting for it with no abstentions.

"The decision over name and the fact that if and when the club do move the new ground will be known as Stacians Park,

both seemed to please all parties. It is a great chance to create a new history for cricket in Ashford and I’m hopeful people will want to come and join a thriving new club with good facilities."

Former Ashford president Bill Day, who will be co-president of Ashford Town together with Ian Plant, said: "This is a great chance to overcome the difficult times that both clubs have suffered of late and push on.

"We are going into an exciting era and I’m thrilled by the prospect of Ashford Town Cricket Club playing on a new ground in the foreseeable future.

"I did invite John Hall to become co-president with me as he has done so much for the Old Stacians Club, but he hasn’t been well of late and declined the

offer, so Ian became the ideal candidate having played for both clubs.

"I’m looking forward to working with him. People can see the benefit of this merger and that ultimately this will be good news for cricket in Ashford."