THEY have been at the top of their game for 50 years and are still going strong.

Terry Kitcher and Dave Riley helped found the St Denys Conservative Club Cribbage team in 1964 and remain key players 50 years on.

It means they are also proud to be part of Southampton’s 50 Years of City status celebrations.

The side was formed after Terry, 72, took a job at a hairdressing salon in The Bargate managed by Dave’s brother Colin, who was a member of the St Denys club. After discovering a mutual love of the game they rounded up six friends and the rest is history.

Terry, who has been captain 44 years out of 50, said: “When we started in the crib league in 1964 the standard in the Southampton Social League was very high and we have always tried to keep this standard up to encourage new players to keep the league alive.

“But the biggest thrill is that St Denys Conservative Club C Side is as old as Southampton is a city.”

And they are still central to its success today, helping the ‘C Side’ to seven Southampton Division One titles, including as recently as in 2013.

Terry is now chairman of the Southampton League and added he was pleased to give something back to his favourite pastime.

If you are celebrating a 50th anniversary this year please contact the Daily Echo on 023 8042 4520.