KIDDERMINSTER Cricket Club's highly-respected groundsman is off to pastures new - but Sean Lloyd has pledged to bat on as a player for the Birmingham League outfit.

Lloyd's glowing reputation for the way he has kept the Chester Road pitch to county standards has earned him a job as Worcester Royal Grammar School's head groundsman.

But although the middle order batsman left to take up his new role this week, he will continue to turn out for the first team in the First Division.

Kidderminster chairman Norman Broadfield said Lloyd goes with the club's best wishes and will be a hard act to follow.

"When I was asked to write Sean a reference the greatest compliment I could pay him was that we would be sorry to see him go," he said.

"He is a very good groundsman and he has done a first-class job, keeping the ground in immaculate condition. Although he is going on to greater glories, he intends to continue playing his cricket in Kidderminster and is still very much part of the Chester Road set up."

The 42-year-old groundsman, who arrived a Kidderminster after being employed part-time at Old Hill cricket club, is proud to have worked at Chester Road.

He said: "With first class cricket being played there it's quite a renowned ground.

"It was a great challenge for me to bring back a very good square to its former condition and if you do a good job at Kidderminster it does earn you recognition."

Anybody wishing to apply for the position of full-time groundsman should write to Norman Broadfield, Kidderminster Cricket Club, Chester Road. Closing date February 16.