OLD Alresford Cricket Club kept going through good times and lean times for more than 130 years.

But, as already reported in the Herald, the club played its last game on May 6 before announcing it was withdrawing from the Hampshire League and would fold, due to a chronic lack of members, particularly young players.

It was a sad end for a well-respected club and followed a worrying trend of smaller, more rural clubs having to disband due to a lack of support.

Four Marks, a neighbouring Hampshire League club, has gone under; Lindford and Alfold have disappeared from the I’Anson ranks.

Old Alresford CC was formed in May, 1886 and for most of its 131 years played home games at Upton Park Farm, under the presidency of Rodney Morgan-Giles and his father before him.

For many years, the club completed a full programme of friendly fixtures on both Saturdays and Sundays from April to September.

As recently as 1997, the club joined the Hampshire League, starting at the bottom in the Supplementary Division, which it won. In subsequent seasons, Old Alresford worked its way up through the four Regional Divisions and gained promotion to County Division Four in 2015.

During recent seasons, however, membership gradually dwindled and during July and August in particular, it was difficult to field 11 players.

This season, after more than 40 phone calls, Old Alresford did manage to raise a team and won the opening fixture in County Four North. Availability for subsequent matches was down to five or six and so, with deep reluctance, the club informed the league it could not fulfil its fixtures and would have to withdraw. Old Alresford were the fifth Hampshire League team to do so this season.

Club chairman John Stanbrook said: “Numerous players have so many happy memories of playing at Old Alresford and it is with regret that the club started the winding-up procedure.

“We have to thank our president, vice-presidents and friends of the club who have supported us so loyally over the years. It is sad to think that we have served our last, between the innings, cup of tea at Upton Park Farm.”