TESTIMONIAL MATCH AT BRIGG REC FOR GARY 'BOTTER' SMITH PROVES ENJOYABLE & VERY SUCCESSFUL

The testimonial match for long-serving former Brigg cricketer Gary 'Bottler' Smith proved very successful and enjoyable yesterday (Saturday, June 26).
The Brigg Town club hosted the match at the Recreation Ground in which current and former players took part.
There was generous support for this friendly encounter and the raffle for which many prizes were donated.
Refreshments were available al fresco throughout the afternoon, including a wide range of tasty cakes.

The £650 raised is to be donated to the Stroke Society, it was announced today.
Jack Richards, still playing for Brigg Town after many years with the club, organised the match, which was graced by perfect weather - warm but not too hot, and thankfully rain-free.
Jack allocated numbers to all 22 players who were then drawn at random to constitute two teams.
As things turned out, the average age of one side was considerably higher than the other.
The result was of secondary importance - a tie with both teams scoring 121 runs, and batsmen having to retire once they made 25, to give others a chance of a knock. Guy Haxby, Steve Marshall, Adam and Mark Dunderdale, Lee Fielden and Ross Richards were among those to score freely.
The most senior participant was Garry 'Gig' Smith, aged 80, who fielded for the full 22 overs and later went to the crease to bat. The club's legendary wicket-taking seam bowler of the late 1970s, 1980s and 1990s retired from club cricket 20 years ago and has long been a regular spectator at Brigg's Lincolnshire League home fixtures.
Next oldest to play, at 67, was David Willey, who first appeared for Town at the Rec in the mid-1970s.
Former Brigg players Jim Copson, Andrew 'Sass' Markham and Alan Ford kindly stood as umpires and did a very good job - 'wide' being a signal often given to the scorers as some of the 'Oldies' who hadn't bowled for many seasons tried to recapture line and length that was once second nature!
There was even an unexpected mid-afternoon fly-past by a Second World War Dakota transport plane, heading north from its base at RAF Coningsby to make an appearance at an Armed Forces Day event elsewhere.
Among the spectators was ex-wicketkeeper and club captain Garry Dunderdale, who watched sons Adam and Mark and grandson Owen playing out in the middle.
'Bottler' was there to watch the entire match, and sincere thanks go to everyone who gave their support.
Some of the players later met up in the nearby Brigg Town Football Club Hawthorns bar for an after-match drink or two -  another opportunity to discuss cricket, past and present.
On a sad note, Brigg Town Cricket Club mourned the passing of former 2nd XI captain Steve Bailey. During a break in play yesterday, a minute's silence was observed in his memory. Steve played for Brigg in the late 1980s and during the following decade and was a well-regarded medium-pace bowler.

PICTURED: Top - Gary 'Bottler' Smith (centre) with some of the players, the umpires and other ex-Brigg players who went along to spectate; Guy Haxby and Lee Fielden on their way out to open the first innings of the day; bowler Phil Dewfall celebrating hitting middle stump to claim a welcome wicket. Below - both teams prior to going out to field; the Dakota flying high over the Rec; tasty cakes to tempt the scorers. MORE PICTURES, KINDLY SUPPLIED BY LEE FIELDEN, WILL APPEAR ON BRIGG BLOG TOMORROW (MONDAY).