CRICKET legend Brian Rose stepped down as President of Somerset County Cricket Club at the recent Annual General Meeting bringing an end to an association that extends back over more than half a century.

Since making his first team debut for the club back in 1969, Rose has been captain of Somerset during the most successful period of their history to date, a time remembered as the ‘Glory Years’ when they lifted five one day trophies in as many years, he has served on the committee, been chairman of cricket, Director of Cricket and President.

Soon after stepping down Rosey talked about his three year stint as President of his beloved Somerset

“Being president has been very interesting and sometimes testing mainly because of covid and the lack of people coming to the ground to watch cricket over almost two years. However it’s really exciting now to see the crowds coming back , and I have had a happy time and hopefully a productive time as president.

“For me its the right thing not to go on mainly for family reasons and grand children -now we have got three and we are spending several days a week with them and enjoying it!

“During my presidency it has been an exciting time on the field, but tinged with great disappointment in certain areas. The finish to last season in September was very disappointing, particularly as we were second in the table at the start of the month and pressing for the title. Everyone knows that for me the Holy Grail is to win the county championship and it still is."

Rose expressed his concerns about the way that the game is developing.

“I’m disturbed to hear that the structure of the game going forward is so heavily biased towards one day cricket, in terms of revenue and there is a threat to the development of first class cricketers and we have seen that around the counties and here at Somerset at times

“The members still at the end of the day have got control of the club. Yes we have had some management restructuring and that was also important and I am in complete agreement with that but at the end of the day Somerset is still a members club, and any management teams going forward must realise that.”

He may have stepped down from the presidency, but the club is part of Rosey’s DNA , so he will always to be part of Somerset County Cricket Club.

Rose added: “It’s a great honour to be an Honorary Life Member of Somerset and when I come down to the ground I always get a huge welcome. I will always support the club and come down whenever I can to watch the team playing."