The future of Ely City Football club may be under threat unless enthusiastic younger members join.

Robert Button, chairman, sent out the stark warning in the hope fresh blood will come forward to take the club into the next decade and onto the next level.

Mr Button said: “The majority of the existing committee are the wrong side of 65 and we need enthusiastic younger members to assist to take the club forward to reach that net level/

“The risk is that if this doesn’t happen and with the ageing committee the status of the club may be under threat.

“Ely City are in need to bolster their committee with new members to promote and sustain the club for the future.”

The city club is the oldest senior football club in Cambridgeshire being formed in 1885.

The first team currently play at step five in the Thurlow Nunn premier league.

Mr Button said: “We are looking for people to help run and support the club helping from helping on match days to becoming an active member on the committee.

Nicknamed “The Robins”, after the red in their shirt, they were formed from the original members of a team called Ely St Etheldreda Football and Cricket Club in about 1885.

The club survived two world wars and after being revived in 1945, had some success in county competitions.

In 1948 they had what was at that time, and still is, a unique double, winning the then two Cambridgeshire senior cup competitions in one week.

For both finals special trains were organised taking 1,000 followers each time. These were the only occasions this has happened in the history of the county.

The club now boasts some of the best facilities in the league, which hopefully will be adequate for the next hundred years.

The last Centenary was celebrated in 1985, when Bobby Robson was the chief guest at a centenary dinner held at the Ely Maltings.

• If you feel you can contribute in any way to supporting the club, the annual meeting is on Monday February 26 at 7pm in the club house.