Stalwart calls time on career

Wellington Cricket Club will lose one of the mainstays as they attempt to retain the Birmingham League premier division in 2007.

Opening batsman Chris Martin has been forced to conclude his 18-year playing association with the Orleton Park outfit as he is moving to Cornwall in March.

The left-hander will also end his stint with Shropshire after 14 Minor Counties Championship and five one-day starts.

Martin - who made his first team debut for Wellington at 16 - was one of the club's most consistent performers as the club rose from the Shropshire Premier League to claim successive Birmingham League titles.And the 34-year-old admitted it will be a massive wrench.

"I will be leaving Wellington reluctantly and there is no way I'd have gone anywhere if I was staying in Shropshire," said Martin.

"It will be very strange because I've been part of the club for the best part of 20 years and the big thing I will miss is the team spirit.

"The camaraderie and team ethos at Wellington is amazing and a major reason behind our success. It's been a great story to be involved in and Terry O'Connor (former team manager) put the foundations in place.

"He gave the likes of Adam and Gavin Byram, Mark Downes and myself the chance before our statistics probably justified it. But we came of age as a group when we on the Shropshire League in 1998 and it's gone on from there."

He will continue as chairman of the club until the current term ends in November. And he has not ruled out the odd appearance: "I will still be up in Shropshire occasionally and I will retain my membership so that I can play a knockout match if I'm here.

"There's also talk of a pre-season friendly with Shrewsbury which I'm hoping I will be able to play in as a swansong."

Martin hopes to play in Cornwall - possibly with Truro - and force his way into the county side.