OTTERY St Mary Cricket club is celebrating its 150th anniversary during 2008 and is launching a major fund raising initiative to refurbish the clubhouse, and support further development of both youth and senior cricket writes Ian Townsend.

OTTERY St Mary Cricket club is celebrating its 150th anniversary during 2008 and is launching a major fund raising initiative to refurbish the clubhouse, and support further development of both youth and senior cricket. Founded in 1858, the club moved to its current home at Salston Fields in the 1920s. It has had plenty of ups and downs since but the 2007 season saw the 2nd XI romp away with Francis Clark D Division (East) by an incredible 50-plus points margin whilst the 1st XI narrowly missed out on promotion to the C Division. Both teams drew heavily upon the fruits of the club's burgeoning youth set-up, one of the largest in Devon which has an impressive 130 members aged between 8 and 17. Ottery CC will field eight teams in youth leagues during the coming season. The existing clubhouse was constructed via the sterling efforts of members in the 1970s and compares well with facilities at many Devon League grounds, but needs a major facelift in order to conform with current legislation and support future ambitions. Work has recently commenced on a £25,000 project to enhance and enlarge the main room, bar and outside viewing area, in addition to providing female changing facilities, disabled access, an umpires' changing room and an improved kitchen. As well as generating additional funds for the development of all areas of Ottery CC, the refurbished clubhouse will provide an excellent facility for use within the community as a whole.Local businesses and individuals with existing or former connections to the club are currently being contacted and given the opportunity to provide sponsorship or donations towards this project, but anyone interested in assisting in any way, financial or otherwise, should contact Rob Bradshaw-Smith on (01404) 811257. The anniversary will be marked in style via an exciting week long festival of cricket which will be staged at Salston Field in mid-July. Planned events include a T20 game against a Gemini FM Radio XI, a Victorian match played in full C19th attire, a six-a-side competition, a sports quiz with invited teams from local sporting clubs, an inter-primary schools softball tournament, a Gentleman of Devon v Ottery fixture and a family disco and hog roast. Celebrations will culminate in a grand ball for 200 plus guests to be held at the ground in a specially erected marquee on the Saturday evening - followed by an OSM President's XI v Chairman's XI game on the closing Sunday.