FORTY-FOUR years after making his bow as a Shipston player, John Bishop finally scored a century for the club.

Now, a regular in the second team's middle order, Bishop, who also lovingly prepares and maintains the London Road ground, reached his milestone in last Sunday's friendly against Gother-ington.

He must have felt the opportunity to join the ton-up club had passed him by when, after several earlier close calls, Bishop was agonisingly dismissed for 98 a couple of seasons ago.

Bishop has amassed more than 10,000 runs for the first and second teams and that figure increased by 106 last weekend as Shipston rattled up 210-2 with the centurion carrying his bat throughout the 40 overs.

The ovation was deserved and made all the more sweeter when the visiting side produced a bottle of champagne to ensure a sparkling finish to what was a memorable afternoon for one of the club's oldest servants.