DROITWICH Spa Cricket Club rounded off the season by saluting an impressive half-century by one of their players.

This summer was Martin Woodward’s 50th playing season with Spa and it proved to be another successful one as he helped the second XI to win Worcestershire League Division Two as their leading wicket-taker with 46 scalps.

Following two summers with Malvern Ramblers Woodward joined Spa in 1967 as an opening batsman after being invited by a colleague from the mail order company Kays where he worked for 33 years.

After just one match for the second XI he was promoted to the firsts and became a mainstay of the team that won the Banks and Silvers League and Worcestershire Club Cricket Championship in 1984 and 1987 respectively.

With 1,450 runs, Woodward still holds the club record for the most Saturday league runs which came in 1976 when he captained the side and notched his highest score of 125, one of three centuries he has scored for Droitwich.

During the 1970s he switched from seam to off-spin bowling and his achievements with the ball included 90 wickets in one season and career-best figures of 6-1 against Bromyard.

Skippering Spa to Worcestershire Sunday League titles in 2004 and 2005 and runners-up in 2006 provided further highs while the low came when team-mate Mike Wynne was killed after being hit on the head by a ball in 1977 as Woodward stood at the non-striker’s end.

After taking early retirement in 2001, he has been able to play cricket several times a week during the summer and maintained his form on several overseas tours in the winter months when he also keeps fit with regular visits to the gym.

For the past decade, Woodward has captained the Worcestershire 60-plus team and also represented England seniors on several occasions.

Next spring, after turning 70, he will be part of their squad for a tour to Australia that will include five Test matches.

“Cricket has given me the opportunity to play with and against some great people and provided many fantastic memories, including being picked for an England 50-plus team which defeated a West Indian Select XI at the Kensington Oval in Barbados and bowling one over to Sir Vivian Richards in a Pro Am match at New Road,” said Woodward.

“I was delighted when he batted back the first ball but not so when he hit the next five for 28!

“I’ve had some great times for Droitwich including winning the league this season and in Jane I’m fortunate to have had a very understanding wife for the past 46 years.

“I’m now looking forward to touring Australia and don’t feel like retiring just yet so as long as I have that desire to play plus my health I hope to continue pulling on my whites.”

Karl Goddard, Droitwich second XI captain, organised a tribute night in recognition of the club’s stalwart which was attended by players past and present.

“Woody is a real character both on and off the pitch as all of his team-mates and probably a few of his opponents over the years will testify,” he said. “He has played every match this season, been pivotal in us winning our league and to finish as the division’s leading wicket-taker is an incredible achievement, one that I hope he will try and emulate next summer.”