LANCASHIRE made history today by electing a woman onto their committee for the first time in the club's history.

Janet Entwistle of Southport, came third in the annual poll where eight candidates were fighting for four vacancies.

And she displaced one of the club's longest-serving members, former vice-chairman Eddie Slinger, an Enfield stalwart, who had been on the committee for 30 years.

Entwistle, a 58-year-old retired teacher, succeeded today at her sixth attempt.

It was only 10 years ago that Lancashire, one of the last all male bastions in British sport, decided to allow women to become full members, giving them a vote and access to the pavilion.

Entwistle was elected today along with retiring committee men John Brewer, Geoff Ogden and Colin Walker. She will now work with 11 men on a committee in charge of one of the world's biggest and most famous cricket club.

Slinger said: "It has been an enormous honour and privelege to serve on the committee for 30 years.

"In that time the club has changed beyond all recognition. We have the strongest squad of players that I can remember with the ideal mixture of exprience and ambitious young players."

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