Nottinghamshire players and staff are in mourning following the sudden death of First XI scorer Gordon Stringfellow.
 
The 72-year-old, who died at his home in Arnold, was a well-known and popular figure at Trent Bridge, succeeding Len Beaumont as First XI scorer in 1994 after working alongside his predecessor the previous summer.
 
Mr Stringfellow spent his entire life working at Gedling Colliery, where he also played for the cricket club for 33 years.
 
A highly-regarded seam bowler at club level, he once took a double hat-trick against Mapperley Hospital in the Nottingham Evening League in 1972.
 
He finally retired from playing in 1981 and the following year began to work as Second XI scorer for Notts.
 
Affectionately known as ‘Stringy’ by friends and colleagues, he watched his old club take on Kimberley in the Notts Premier League on Saturday.
 
Ill-health limited him to scoring Notts home matches in recent seasons, but his sharp eye and love of the game was undiminished.
 
The Notts team were told of Mr Stringfellow’s death before the start of the current Championship match against Glamorgan at Swansea and are wearing black armbands.
 
Director of Cricket Mick Newell said: “Stringy was a familiar and friendly face to everyone at Trent Bridge and had a real passion for the game.
 
“He was always very happy to talk about cricket and often acted as an unofficial psychologist for the players if they needed cheering up.
 
“He shared in the winning and the losing just as much as the squad, and will be deeply missed by everyone.”