Players and supporters will be descending on the Fortfield tomorrow (Saturday, April 2) as Sidmouth Cricket Club participates in the annual NatWest Cricket Force day, writes John Goodwin.

Clubs across the country use the day as an impetus to get their facilities in order for the start of the season, which in Sidmouth’s case is the following weekend when the home side entertain Werrington from Cornwall on the Saturday and Devon play Somerset in a warm-up match on Sunday.

A key task for the volunteers when work starts at 10am tomorrow is erection of the practice nets which came into use last season.

Among other jobs is a repaint of the pavilion clock which is showing the signs of old father time.

Many of the materials being used in tomorrow’s work have been obtained through the sponsorship scheme operated through the England and Wales Cricket Board with Jewson. This enables clubs to obtain goods to the value of £350 for £50.

The ailing home-made sightscreens are being braced for another season, pending the acquisition of new ones which are expected to arrive in the next few weeks.

New tops to the mobile pitch covers, two of which have been sponsored by Drainmaster and Potburys Funeral Services, have already been applied to the frames.