One of the most remarkable records of sporting services has been recognised.

Tony Rogers is in his 50th year as secretary of Narborough & Littlethorpe cricket club.

And the club have marked his service with a special presentation.

Roger Key's president's day featured a match between the President's XI and a Tony Rogers XI and, before the start, Rogers received a special shirt bearing the squad number 50.

Key said: "My son, Richard, is the first-team captain and when the shirts were done before the start of the season, I said to get one done for Tony.

"I should not think there is another cricket club in the country where the secretary has served for 50 years."

Rogers began his long association with the club in 1951 at the age of 12 when he joined the junior team.

By the age of 16 he was helping out as a groundsman and, in 1960, he was elected as the secretary.

A batsman-keeper, he captained the club from 1968 to 1972 and from 1979 to 1981 and, in 1979, he was in the club side which played at Lord's in the national indoor final before retiring from playing in 1984.

In the early 1960s, his secretarial tasks included organising the Parish Council to cut the pitch and arranging to hire a roller for the season.

He also ran the club tote to raise funds for away team transport.

In 1962 he started a weekly club circular which he continues to produce to this day, albeit via email as opposed to typing and using a duplicator.

Rogers also started the club's dinner which he still arranges.

And his work for the club is far from over.

Rogers is now looking forward to seeing the club's plans for a new pavilion take shape.

He said: "You wouldn't do if you wouldn't enjoy it.

"It's the number of friends I have made. I have been mixed up with all sports – golf, cricket and rugby – and sport makes friends."