A CELEBRATORY cricket match which would have seen a local team face off against legends of the sport was cancelled after a number of people tested positive for coronavirus.

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

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.

A celebration was planned for last Saturday, September 18 to mark the successful campaign, and the occasion would have seen the Broadwindsor Cricket Club team face off against an all-star team compiled by Mr Stafford Smith.

The all-star team would have included former England all-rounder, Chris Lewis, who competed in a charity match at the club earlier in the year. Other former England internationals were also slated for the team, with Mr Stafford Smith hinting that perhaps even a former England footballer would be participating on the day.

Unfortunately for those involved, the celebrations were cancelled after a number of people who were due to attend the event tested positive for Covid-19. The plan is now for the event to take place at the beginning of next year's cricket season.

The club's 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.