SPECIAL TESTIMONIAL MATCH IN BRIGG FOR POPULAR EX-CRICKETER GARY 'BOTTLER' SMITH

Brigg Town Cricket Club is to hold a special testimonial game this weekend for Gary M. Smith - a very popular former player.
Gary's benefit match will take place at the Recreation Ground, off Wrawby Road, on Saturday, June 26 (meet 1pm - 20 overs per side).
Ex-Brigg cricketers - some long retired - are now being contacted with a view to donning their whites once again (if they still have them!).
People are welcome to pop along to the Rec on Saturday afternoon to lend their support, with raffle prizes being requested to add to those already donated by well-wishers.
Long-serving club member Jack Richards is kindly co-ordinating this match, and donations are welcome.
Still a Brigg resident today, Gary - nicknamed Bottler - was a fine opening batsman who scored stacks of runs for Brigg over many seasons from 1980.
Lee Fielden, the former Brigg wicketkeeper/batsman, has supplied details of two Lincolnshire League record partnerships he and Gary established for Division Three...
1st wicket 221 runs: L. Fielden (137 not out) and G. M. Smith (74 not out) for Brigg Town v Caistor 3rds at Caistor in 2003.
3rd wicket 149 runs: L. Fielden (88) and G. M. Smith (88 not out) for Brigg Town v Louth 2nds at the Brigg Recreation Ground in 2005.
Lee describes Gary M. Smith as his favourite batting partner.
"I’ll never forget a rain-affected game at Hykeham," Lee told Brigg Blog. "The home side declared at 200 after 35 overs as bad weather was incoming. During the subsequent early tea break there was a shower which, unknown to us at the time, had managed to get through the 3-piece covers, resulting in a damp patch just short of a length at the far end from the pavilion.
"Me and Gary walked out to bat and I took first knock, as I always did. I stood waiting for the rest of the fielders to appear but hadn’t surveyed the field as I should have. Apart from short leg and the bowler, most were in catching positions in the cordon.
"Through the gloom I could just about make out the bowler. He was a tall lad; a Lincs County Junior player I was later to learn, and he was coming in off a lengthy run.
"I asked for '2 please, umpire" (batting guard) and settled in for what I expected to be a fairly sharpish delivery.
"The ball pitched on the wet strip the covers had failed to protect, reared at an alarming angle and removed the cap from my head on its way through to the keeper.
"Somewhat flustered, I picked my cap up - placing it back on my head - and turned to see Gary, shoulders heaving with laughter, at the opposite end. He later said he could see the colour drain from my face!
"The bowling from the other end was just as intense, but with the weather closing in we both knew if we could stick it out it would save us.
"We both liked the ball coming on the bat - Bottler especially. He was the most languid of pullers; he seemed to have time to spare when playing the shot.
"We managed to take Brigg to 82-0 when Gary was finally out for 42. Two balls later the game was over as the new batsmen could not see the ball and we were offered the light and gleefully took it! (I was 37 not out)."

PICTURED: Views of Gary Smith with Brigg Town from the early 1980s onwards (taken from a selection of team pictures in our archive) and also with Lee Fielden, in the main image, following their double century batting partnership at Caistor 18 years ago.