THINGS will never be quite the same again at Escrick Park Cricket Club, whose members have decided to end a custom lasting 138 years, while secretary Bill Reader has retired after 48 years, writes Malcolm Huntington.

Escrick, six miles south of York, are one of the oldest clubs in the area and have always played friendly matches in addition to local cup competitions. But they have never before entered a league - until now.

Next season they will compete in division three of the Pulleyn Heselton York Vale League.

Reader said: "I never thought it would happen, but we didn't have an alternative.

"The problem has been difficulty getting fixtures. In the old days a lot of clubs played friendly cricket, but now hardly anyone does. We've had to travel 50 miles sometimes to get a game.

"It's sad in a way because we have had some wonderful times over many years, but things change and we have to change as well."

Reader, 76, played his first game for Escrick in 1938 and his last in 1995 when an eye injury forced his reluctant retirement.

"I tried to pull a ball and pulled it into my face in a match at Goldsborough. I have a plate and four screws in my cheekbone and there is damage to the muscle in my eye causing double vision. The ironic thing was that I was on 49 not out and had my son Neil batting at the other end at the time."

Reader, who had one season with York CC in 1948, hit three centuries and countless 50s in his long career as an all-rounder. A medium fast right arm bowler, he also took several hat-tricks, one of them in the Canon Hedley Cup final, a competition won four times in a row by Escrick in the 1970s, Reader as captain three times.

He recalls the day when he was asked to play as a guest for York Diocese at Ampleforth. "They were short of a bowler, but the day before I had bowled 18 overs for York Wanderers on a hot day at Whitby and was as stiff as a board so couldn't bowl. However, I managed to make a hundred."

Reader, a member of York Wanderers since 1955, was introduced to the Forty Club by John Temple, the former Yorkshire CCC chairman, in 1971 and played for them for 24 years, also being their district chairman for the North East of England until retiring last year.

He played against Holland and Denmark in the annual triangular tournament in Copenhagen in 1973 alongside former England Test batsman Reg Simpson, West Indies player Peter Short and ex-Yorkshire wicketkeeper Don Brennan.

He has also played in South Africa, Singapore, Australia and in Barbados in 1980 for the Still Going Strong Club. Largely made up of Dutch players, it has 12 honorary members, among them Reader, ex-West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, and the late Peter May, a former England captain.

Reader will continue to be connected with cricket as chairman of the Canon Hedley Cup competition. He has now been made president of Escrick CC in recognition of his huge contribution to cricket in the village.

Escrick CC would welcome more players for next season. Anyone interested should contact membership secretary Brian Castle (tel 01904 728343).