Bishopthorpe Cricket Club facing closure due to lack of players

Bishopthorpe Cricket Club recently held a friendly cricket match against York City Football Club

A century-old cricket club is in danger of closing after a struggle to find new players.

Bishopthorpe Cricket Club has launched a recruitment drive to find new members who can play at Ferry Lane playing fields, York, before the new season starts in April.

If the field is no longer in use, the lease is expected to return to the landowners, the club said.

Player Ed Townend said it "would be really sad if the club was to fall".

Speaking to BBC Radio York, he said the Yorkshire Premier League Division Four side would make a decision in the next couple of weeks about its future.

"We're in a position at the moment where the club is on the brink of closure if we aren't able to find some new players," he said.

Mr Townend continued: "We've seen a number of players over the years either retire or move away and we've not got any new players into the club.

"We're just trying to put an appeal out there to see if there's any budding cricketers or anybody that may have played in the past who think they might like to give it a go again."

The club has seen the number of players fall over the last couple of years

The club has seen its 20-strong team drop down to about eight or nine men over the last couple of years.

Mr Townend said they were seeking males or females to just "enjoy the cricket club for what it is", rather than having to commit to attending training and matches each week.

"It's a good setup at the club - nice ground, good camaraderie, good teamwork amongst the players," he said.

"Everyone gets on really well, you play hard and then have a drink afterwards as a team and it's good for village life."