Calmore Sports Club First XI captain Mark Lavelle has decided to step down from the role after eight success filled seasons at the helm.

He took over from Darren Vann in 2015 and presided over two league winning campaigns in 2016 and 2017 before taking the club, not once but twice, to Lord’s for the Final of the National Village Knock-out, lifting the trophy in 2021 and his final match as skipper will be walking down the steps at the Home of Cricket for a second time on 18 September against Dumbleton.

Mark’s eight seasons in charge is the longest first XI captaincy reign since Walter Maton’s 11-season run from 1947 to 1957 and he looks back at his tenure with great pride when we caught up with him just prior to his 112th and final league match as captain, away at Ventnor on Saturday.

And he reflects on the club as a whole – and how far it has come since his first season as leader … the disasterous 2015 relegation one!