ACCOUNTANCY firm Bishop Fleming is close to scoring a century at Worcestershire County Cricket Club's New Road ground in Worcester.

Because it is has just been appointed the club's official audit and tax partner for the 96th year in a row, the partnership having begun in 1919.

Bishop Fleming's partner in charge of its Worcester office Ian Smith, said: "My own 28 years of engagement with Worcestershire County Cricket Club is just a fraction of this firm's partnership with the club. That started in 1919, the year Bishop Fleming was created, following an agreement made in the gas filled trenches of the First World War between Mr Bishop and Mr Fleming to create an accountancy firm if they survived the War. In that same year, Philip Rabjohns (the founder of our Worcester office) led a team of cricketers to identify post war cricket talent at WCCC.

"He subsequently acted as scorer, acting secretary and committee member. Rabjohns became the West Midlands centre for Bishop Fleming in 2011."

Bishop Fleming's partnership with Worcestershire County Cricket Club is mirrored by its long-term involvement with Worcester Warriors.The firm has acted for the Warriors president Cecil Duckworth for more than 50 years and the Warriors for the whole of the professional era.