ALL-ROUNDER Ben Turner will be stepping up to lead Monmouth Cricket Club this summer.

Turner is the new first-team skipper, replacing Paul Swingwood, who has quit the role after a successful four-year stint.

Turner will be backed up by his deputy, Josh Grey, as Monmouth, sponsored by JD Wetherspoon, hope to build on a fourth-placed finish last season in the Glamorgan and Monmouthshire League Division Three.

Club vice-chairman Ian Morgan said Turner was a popular choice  to take the first-team role.

"Ben Turner was the unanimous choice at the annual meeting and I am sure he will do a very good job this summer," said Morgan.

"Josh Grey has been at the club for a long time and, on his day, he is as good a batsman as anyone in the division. It is great to have Josh involved."

Morgan said the club had been forced to rebuild their senior section last season after David Teague and Jonathan Roberts departed to join Chepstow.

But Morgan added: "We were delighted to welcome back Wayne Etheridge and Dave Croudace last summer, while Matt Lovett and Charles Griffin were excellent additions at first-team level and we hope to see them again.

"We are an ambitious club with a thriving junior section and we are always delighted to give young players a chance."

Chairman Martin Newell will be skippering Monmouth's second team with support from vice-captain Luke Bowley.

Liam Stubbs will, once again, be running Monmouth's development team in the GB Liners Marches Sunday League.

The club are thrilled that Alison Williamson and Dave Walters will be stepping up to share the child welfare officer's role.

Meanwhile, Monmouth Cricket have 10 junior players who are enjoying county age-group training with Gwent Young Cricketers.

Monmouth will be running a girls' team this summer, with mixed teams in the under-9, under-11, under-13 and under-15 age-groups.

For more details about Monmouth Cricket Club, email Jon Despontin on [email protected]">[email protected] or call 07966 015609.

Monmouth Cricket Club's officers for 2014: Saturday, 1st team captain: Ben Turner; Saturday, 1st team vice-captain: Josh Grey; Saturday 2nd team captain: Martin Newell; Saturday 2nd team vice-captain: Luke Bowley; Sunday team captain: Liam Stubbs;  president: John Wigmore; chairman: Martin Newell; vice-chairman: Ian Morgan; secretary: Juliet MacFarlane; treasurer: Claire Despontin; welfare officers: Alison Williamson and Dave Walters; youth co-ordinator: Jon Despontin; league rep: Jon Despontin;  social secretary: Matthew Jones.