After more than 125 years, the North Lancashire and Cumbria Cricket League is no more - but will operate under a new name for the 2019 season.

It will be the Cumbria Cricket League in acknowledgement of the fact all the competing clubs are based in the county.

There will also be a new chairman in Steve Chambers who replaces Gary Postlethwaite who has stood down because of increased work commitments.

“I think it was just a natural progression from the county of Cumbria being created in 1974 and the re-structuring of the leagues in 2000,” said Chambers.

“The traditionalists might have wanted to retain the old title, because it wasn’t a unanimous decision, but it didn’t cause any heated debate and I think everyone is fine with it now the decision has been made.

"There isn’t a team from outside the county competing in it now when originally, of course, quite a lot of the teams were based in North Lancashire.”

Cumbrian clubs like Penrith and Barrow have relatively recently left the league to join the Northern League alongside Kendal and Netherfield.

Chambers said: “It’s long been a dream of mine to see all the Cumbrian clubs competing in the same competition and I’d love to see that happening in the future.

"We have a strong league which, even though it’s name has changed, doesn’t detract from its rich and proud history.

“There are without doubt challenges ahead but the people at the helm of our clubs are, I know, devoted to ensuring that this great game and our league is successful.

“I look forward to working with all our clubs to ensure we continue to provide a platform for all our players to enjoy and perform to their best. There are many areas of cricket in the county which are thriving - junior and women in particular - but I do think we have a problem in retention.

“At my own club Cockermouth, our captain Gareth White is 39 and I am the chairman, still playing for the seconds and I am 57 - yet there is nobody of an age between. Then, from someone playing who is 34, there are only four still playing up to the age of 40. That didn’t used to be the case years ago.

"Don’t get me wrong, we have a thriving youth section and I don’t think there’s any doubt it’s the clubs who do work hard on their junior sections who are doing particularly well.

"But even here, we find a number of kids lose interest when they get to 16+, although that is a modern problem which is affecting all other sports.”

Cockermouth will be remembered now as the last winners of the North Lancs and Cumbria League.

If the new chairman has his way, the Cumbria Cricket League will be a winning formula for everyone.