A LONG-STANDING crib league could fold because of pub closures and player shortages.

Organisers of the North Staffordshire Crib League, which meets in pubs on Monday nights, believe it is at least 30 years old.

But the number of participating sides has dropped from 36 to 10 in the past five years.

Now, league officials are meeting on Thursday to try to drum up more support.

One possibility is that the Stoke-on-Trent-based league – which has players aged from 15 to their 80s – could merge with other local sides.

It used to operate on an eight-man team basis, with four players at home and four away each week.

But that has now reduced to a four-a-side format, involving a home fixture one week followed by a return leg the next.

League secretary Ian Buttress, aged 40, said: “A lot of the problem is pubs shutting, as well as the fact that they are not owned by landlords or breweries any more, but by management companies, which leads to uncertainty. We are trying to keep it going but it is a struggle because of the age group of the players – the young ones aren’t really there.”

Justin Haddon has been playing crib for 15 years after being introduced to the game by his father.

The 34-year-old began playing for the Kings Head, in Smallthorne, when his brother Jason, who also plays, took over the pub.

The pub used to have two sides but now has just one.

Justin said: “There are no young ones coming through and I think it is a bit of a dying game, which is a shame because we have had some good nights.

“Pubs are quieter and there are not as many people coming for the leagues.

“Hopefully after this week’s meeting we will get a few more teams into the league and be able to get the prize money sorted out a bit.”

Lesley Jackson runs the team at The Globe, in Bucknall New Road, Hanley, and has been playing crib for 25 years.

The 45-year-old said: “Young people are not getting involved with the game. I suppose it is publicity more than anything because you have darts, snooker and poker on TV and they seem to be getting more into that sort of thing than crib, which is more old-fashioned.”

The league is meeting on Thursday at the Trent Tavern, Dividy Road, Bentilee, from 8.30pm.

Do you play crib with the North Staffordshire league?