Devon Cricket Board - Kerslake to stand down as Somerset president

Kerslake to stand down as Somerset president

SOMERSET'S long-serving president Roy Kerslake has announced his retirement after 12 yeas in the job.
Kerslake, now 72, was an all rounder who played for Somerset between 1962 and 1968, in the last year of which he captained the county.
He started playing cricket with home-town club Paignton and went through the Devon colts system, where future Test umpire David Shepherd was a team-mate.
All-rounder Kerslake appeared in 52 First Class matches for Somerset, in which he scored 946 runs with a best of 55 against Essex at Bath in his final year.
His off-spin claimed 45 wickets at 24.04 runs apiece with a best of six for 83 against Hampshire at Bournemouth in 1964.
He stepped down from First Class cricket to concentrate on his career as a solicitor in Taunton, but carried on playing Minor Counties and 2nd XI cricket until 1977.
Kerslake (pictured) remained involved with Somerset and was chairman of the cricket committee during the Glory Years of the 1980s.
He replaced Michael Hill as the club's president in 2004, since when he has rarely missed a Somerset game, home and away.
Kerslake was one of those responsible for the return of ex-captain Brain Rose to the club as director of cricket in 2005, when the club won their most recent trophy, the T20 Cup.
Announcing his intention to step down, Kerslake said: 'It has been an immense privilege to serve as Somerset's president.
'It is a role I have enjoyed enormously and felt tremendously passionate about. It would be remiss of me not to thank my wife Lynn whom I regard as very much part of my presidency.'
'There is a never a right time to decide when to stand down, but the opening of the Somerset Pavilion and the advent of international cricket is a sensible time to make way for a new face.
'The club has undergone phenomenal positive change over the last decade and I have every confidence that we have collectively built a great club which will thrive long into the future. '
Somerset chairman, Andy Nash said: 'It is difficult to put into just a few words Roy's impact and contribution to the club as our president over the last 12 years.
'He has made an extraordinary difference to the success of the club to date, providing wise and thoughtful guidance to the general committee, as well as unfailing support to the executive and clear leadership through good and tough times.
'Roy and Lynn, have rarely missed a ball of cricket and have tirelessly hosted visiting committees and guests with kindness and generosity.
'We like to think of ourselves as a welcoming and friendly club and we are greatly indebted to them both for their phenomenal work in that regard.
'Roy and Lynn are a formidable partnership and will literally be irreplaceable; we will miss them greatly.
'They will always be afforded a very warm welcome at Somerset and I am sure they will continue to spend many happy days at the County Ground. We will of course mark their departure more formally at the end of the year.'

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