A LOCAL cricket club is celebrating after a successful fundraising campaign to save its ground - and could see a former England footballer join in the festivities.

Supporters of Broadwindsor Cricket Club - including its chairman, civil rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith - hit their fundraising target for six, raising the sum of £35,000 to purchase the land the club's ground sits on and saving the historic club.

The club will be hosting a celebration to mark the successful campaign, and the occasion will see the team face off against an all-star team complied by Mr Stafford Smith.

The Crowdfunder campaign launched in 2020 raised more than the asking price, with funds left over for improvements to the facilities, which have also now been purchased. The campaign was even able to garner the support of cricketing commentary legend Henry 'Blowers' Blofeld.

The supporters were forced to take a stand after the club was served with an eviction notice by the owners of the land who intended to sell the site, threatening to end more than 100 years of cricket at the venue.

With the funds raised in the campaign, the land was purchased and placed into a trust so that cricket can be played at the ground in perpetuity. Since that time, the focus of the club has been on making improvements to the ground.

Nick Hollely, secretary of Broadwindsor Cricket Club, said: “I was only thanks to the fantastic support we were shown in our fund-raising campaign that we were able to survive and thrive.

“We plan to install solar energy in the off-season, and complete all the work on the club house.”

Mr Stafford Smith's team for this weekend will include former England all-rounder, Chris Lewis, who competed in a charity match at the club earlier in the year. Other former England internationals are also slated for the team, with Mr Stafford Smith hinting that perhaps even a former England footballer will participate on the day.

Mr Stafford Smith said: “We had a match earlier in the season where my team rather let the Captain’s Eleven win the match, and Chris said he would be willing to make the trip again so we can seek revenge.

"But the main purpose is to attract local supporters who may want to play next year, as well as to thank everyone again for their support.”

Residents are invited to celebrate the achievement, watch the match and enjoy drinks and a barbecue.