Mill Hill Village Cricket Club will return to the southwest in July for a mid-season tour.

The three-match tour of Gloucestershire begins against our familiar West Country foes Stone CC, in Berkeley, on Monday, July 29 (likely 2pm start for a 40-over match). A barbecue will follow the match.

The Village then take on Frocester CC, one of the top clubs in the county, on Tuesday, July 30 (start time TBC), at the delightful Pounds Close ground, pictured above.

The third and final game in the tour is against Oldbury-on-Severn CC on Wednesday, July 31 (start time TBC), three miles outside Thornbury, north of Bristol. A club with a rich history, Oldbury’s first recorded match was in 1872, making them nearly as old as Mill Hill Village.

The Village touring squad will base themselves at Ye Old Dursley Hotel (aka the Old Bell) at Dursley for four nights from Sunday, July 28 for the duration of the tour. Players and supporters are expected to make their own to Gloucestershire, some heading down on Sunday, some on the day of the first match on Monday, and are encouraged to car-share.

Club president and tour organiser Piers Jenkins is now taking player availability. Contact him on 07970 948134 to register your interest or for further information. He can also be reached via email: piers.jenkins@btinternet.com.

Jenkins said: “Over the years Mill Hill Village has become very well known in this little corner of Gloucestershire, and I personally cannot wait to tour again after four years off.

"With our four Saturday teams flourishing this season, this is a brilliant chance for us all to meet up for some food and drink during the day and into the evening. And the opposition is always a good laugh.

"Non-players are more than welcome on tour to cheer on the team in our three matches, and every player who comes along will be guaranteed at least one game. The teams won’t be picked on merit, but more from a mixed ability of all tour attendees. Even some of the 1s may get in the teams!

"Our four regular Saturday captains, who I hope all come along, won’t have to spend all week planning their selections for this tour. We will have three different captains for the three games. Should be amazing fun - it always is!

"There are no rules on when to get up or go to bed. The earliest riser I have ever seen is Sanket going swimming in the Dursley pool every morning at 7am, with the latest going-to-bed record held by David Overton with a time of 8am!"

"If you can only make yourself available for one or two games on the tour, that's perfectly fine as well - please let us know."

Key Gloucestershire 2024 tour dates:
July 29: vs Stone CC (likely 2pm start)
July 30: vs Frocester CC (start tbc)
July 31: vs Oldbury-on-Severn CC (start tbc)

Key Gloucestershire 2024 tour locations:
Stone Cricket Club
Swanley
Berkeley
GL13 9JL

Frocester Cricket Club
Pounds Close
Bath Road
Frocester
GL10 3TW

Oldbury Upon Severn Cricket Club
The Playing Fields
Westmarsh Lane
Oldbury On Severn, Bristol
BS35 1QA

Ye Old Dursley Hotel
13 Long Street
Dursley
GL11 4HL