Bishop's Stortford Indoor Bowls Club is being forced to close at the end of this season after 14 years.

The club will play its final fixture of the summer season on September 17, which will be followed by an extraordinary general meeting to dispose of its assets.

Membership has dropped recently and the opening of the Saffron Walden Indoor Bowls Club means that the rota has dropped to less than 200 for the forthcoming winter season.

Tony Knight, the club secretary, said: "It's very disappointing but the club has to close because it just isn't economically viable to continue.

``We have had so much success over the past decade but now all that will count for nothing."

The players will be forced to join other clubs if they want to continue playing but this is no consolation according to Knight.

``That will mean a lot of travelling," he said, ``and a lot of our members will find that difficult this winter."

The club had produced many county players, with 15 of them being chosen for Hertfordshire matches in the 97/98 season, and also in the Eastern Counties league.

Two young players, Tim Norman and Graham Thompson, had also gained selection for the Herts County under-25 team.

Other members have had success individually in national competitions or have served on the county committee.

``It will be very sad looking back over the years," said Knight. ``But there are lots of good times to remember as well. Those should never be forgotten."

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