MCC will help Emsworth mark 200 years of cricket

An exhibition at the town’s museum is the appetite-whetter for the bi-centenary festival week coming up later this month.

A committee was set up to plan and oversee a summer of special occasions to mark the big anniversary in style.

Other events either held already or in the pipeline include a golf day, a race evening at Goodwood, a trip to Lord’s and a presentation dinner with a guest speaker.

But the showpiece of the celebrations is just around the corner – a cricket festival week starting on Monday, July 25.

On the Monday evening, there’ll be an Emsworth versus Emsworth Old Boys Twenty20 match, while the following night the club will entertain a team from Raymarine.

The big match of the week comes on Wednesday, July 27, against an MCC team.

On the Thursday, Emsworth face their close neighbours Chidham & Hambrook with a 1.30pm start.

And the festival comes to a close on Friday 29 with a game against Headstone St Georges, due to begin at 1.30pm.

The club have secured sponsorship from The Coal Exchange pub in Emsworth and members have been raising money for the anniversary with quiz nights, car boot sales and raffles.

Ten per cent of the proceeds raised by the end of the year will be donated to two charities – Help for Heroes and Emsworth Primary School, which will use any donation for new sports equipment.

For coverage of the festival week, see the Observer and August’s Ems Valley Gazette.