When Liskeard Cricket Club withdrew from the Cornish League in May, the future looked bleak for the Lux Park outfit.

From fielding three teams at the start of the decade playing numbers had dwindled to just the one taking part in Division Three East.

The handful of remaining players went elsewhere and the pitch once adorned by the likes of Eric Willcock and Mike Holman in the club’s hey day in the early 1970s was left empty.

A club that had been a member fo the Cornish league for 61 seasons between 1920 and 2018 was no more.

Towards the end of the season club secretary John Coates decided to try to gather a few people together with the idea of discussing what future, if any, did the club have.

Unfortunately, for health reasons, he had to withdraw from the process and any hopes of resurrecting the club seemed to have disappeared.

It was at this point that a number of former players decided that it was time to take action. Surely, they thought, a town with such a tradition of playing cricket couldn’t just roll over and die?

After a number of meetings a committee and a team has been assembled and a formal application to be readmitted to the league has been made. The club’s annual general meeting has been set for Monday January 14 at the Sports Club, Liskeard at 7.30pm.

Tim Hyslop , a former first team captain and player between 1980 and 2010, said: ’It has been a bit of a whirlwind really but we have been very encouraged by the response of former players and newcomers looking to play or take some other role within the club.

’There’s still a lot of work to be done but there are now some foundations in place. We will be looking to have nets in February and March and new members will be very welcome.’

Apart from playing league cricket again, Liskeard want to reach out to all genders and backgrounds and encourage families to play the sport including the soft ball version. This includes holding a number of social events with family based activities.

The new committee will also be targeting ground improvements as a priority and maintaining the excellent playing surface so carefully nurtured by groundsman Robin Marchant over many decades.

Hislop said: ’We have great facilities at Liskeard and it is a fantastic place to play cricket and to bring the family.

’Anyone interested in playing, supporting or who just wants more information is very wjelcome to call me on 07740 875 159.’