VILLAGE cricket in Kent has been dealt a blow with the news that Boughton Monchelsea CC near Maidstone has disbanded (Fred Atkins writes)

The club were founder members of the Kent County Village League and were traditionally one of its strongest sides, winning the Division One title in 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1985.

But a steady decline set in in recent years and last summer they struggled through their division three campaign, eventually finishing second from bottom and winning just one game all season.

Club secretary Janet Chapman said the main reasons for the club’s closure were the ever-dwindling pool of players and the increasingly depressing effects of vandalism on the club’s ground.

She said: “Lack of players is the usual reason clubs fold. It’s been going on for a while, but like all small sides we can’t compete with bigger clubs for players.”

Appeals for new recruits had fallen on deaf ears, according to Mrs Chapman. She stressed: “We’ve tried, but nobody seems interested. It’s taken a lot of thought, but you can’t play in the league without players.”

The club might have been able to survive playing friendlies, but the deteriorating state of their ground at Heath Road had such a demoralising effect that the club have decided to fold completely.