David Jolleys, Settle's experienced campaigner, has bowled his final over.

He has announced his retirement after his right knee failed to respond to a prolonged spell of treatment over the winter period. Although the signs of wear and tear were creeping up on Jolleys, it was hoped that Settle would have been able to squeeze one more season out of the veteran campaigner.

Jolleys, 50 this year, signed professional forms for the club in 1988. His spell as a pro came to an end in 1991. He returned to his old club, Lancaster, in 1992 but returned to Settle the following year to give the club "something back". A spell back at Lancaster in 1996-99 was followed by his third and final spell as a Settle player between 2000 and 2002.

An outstanding line and length bowler, he had the ability to tie people down and force batters to play rash shots. Jolleys represented the Northern and Ribblesdale League sides and is one of the few Settle players to claim a hat-trick - at Clitheroe in 2001.

Settle's skipper Andrew Davidson said that Jolleys would be missed.

"Dave was a superb role model for any young player. He was a winner and always gave 100 per cent on the field. He would try like hell to win a game when others would have packed their bags and gone home.

"The match against Ribb Wanderers a couple of seasons ago was typical of his attitude. Dave snatched victory from an impossible situation by hitting 23 in the last three overs to win a game in which we were down and out. With him in the side, the club was guaranteed a return of 50 wickets a season. Mind you no wonder his knee is knackered when you look at the number of overs he has bowled".

The club will honour his contribution to Settle cricket at their annual dinner at the end of September.