PCA Masters on way back
MAWDESLEY Cricket Club is again staging a T20 exhibition game against the PCA Masters, a team of ex-England internationals provided by the Professional Cricketers Association on Friday July, 7.
The game is being held to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Club’s entry into league cricket in 1897 and follows on from the very successful game played against the PCA Masters in 2014 to celebrate the opening of the Club’s then new cricket pavilion.
A number of top exEngland stars have already confirmed their intention of playing including some of England’s top pace bowlers Ryan Sidebottom, Simon Jones, Alex Tudor and Steve Harmison along with Owais Shah, Adam Hollioake and Mal Loye providing the batting class.
Richard Blakeley and Paul Nixon will both be playing and looking to score runs with one of them taking the gloves.
A Mawdesley Select XI comprising players from Mawdesley, Rufford, Eccleston, Croston, Great Eccleston and Lytham Cricket Clubs, will be lining up to take on the England side which promises to be an exciting encounter.
The PCA Masters match held at Mawdesley in 2014 was watched by around a thousand spectators who were treated to an encounter of great skill and spectacle.
The PCA Masters team is managed by ex-England and Lancashire batsmen Neil Fairbrother and aims to support the work of the PCA which was founded in 1967 and is the collective voice of first class cricketers in England and Wales.
The PCA Masters came into being in 2002, playing its opening fixture against the Sri Lankan touring side.
Since its inception, the PCA Masters has gone from strength to strength, playing more than 100 matches, developing the profile of the PCA and the work it does in providing opportunities for recently retired cricketers, supporting current players and funding the work of the PCA Benevolent Fund.
The match will start at 4.30pm on July, 7 at Mawdesley Cricket Club’s Rectory Field ground which is situated off School Lane in Mawdesley (L40 3TG).
Tickets can be bought in advance from the Club by calling 01704 821867 or from the Spar Shop on New Street in the village for £8 adults and £4 for Under 16s if bought before the end of June or £10 & £5 in July or at the gate on the day.
The PCA players will be signing autographs both before and after the game.
Ample car parking is available for all spectators in the immediate vicinity of the ground and will be well sign posted.
A 1948 Bedford bus from the William Hunter Vehicle Collection will take spectators from the external car parks to the ground.
Although there will be some limited seating available on the day, spectators are advised to bring their own folding chairs if they want to guarantee themselves a seat.
The Club has arranged for a bar and BBQ as well as an ice cream outlet to be operating on the day, so spectators needs will be well catered for.
The entertainment doesn’t end with the cricket as there will be live music and a bar until 10pm in the evening.