Sheldwich Cricket Club based near Faversham mark 100th anniversary in style

The sun was shining and the beer was flowing as Sheldwich Cricket Club marked their 100th anniversary in some style.

With the club based near Faversham continuing to grow, there was a “Dynamos” kids’ game before the senior sides took to the field for a T20 match - with the Saturday side playing “the Older Generation”.

Fielding first, the “Olds” restricted the youngsters to 147.

The youngsters reached their total thanks to George Burrell (retired on 26), Jim Wilson (retired on 24), Sam Evans (20) and Jonathan Taylor-Ray (19) while Phil Stanford, Julian Beal, Steve Blythin, and Mark Rickard and Jamie Rickard were among the wickets.

In reply, the “Olds”, who seemingly relished the chance to roll back the years, fell just short of their target.

Ronnie ‘Rocket’ Brown (23) - having dealt with son Scott Brown - and Phil Stanford (24 not out) - having dealt with his own sons Jonathan Stanford and Sam Stanford - did well but that wasn’t quite enough as Taylor-Ray, Scott Brown, Sam Wells and Sam Stanford got among the wickets.

But this was a day on which cricket was the real winner, with around 100 people watching the action last Sunday. A bouncy castle helped to keep children entertained, with food also on offer.

To mark the occasion, Sheldwich also arranged to look back at the history of the club, finding out all those who had - and exactly when they had - played for Sheldwich during the past century with their cap numbers displayed in the clubhouse.