UPLYME & Lyme Regis Cricket Club chairman Ian Taylor admitted support for the financially-stricken side at their emergency meeting had been “heartening”.

Uplyme require a ‘purchase balance’ of £4,300, created after renting a pitch roller, to be paid by early September, without which the roller will be returned.

The sum of £4,300 will additionally allow time for structural changes to the club and its governance to be undertaken.

At the time of writing, £260 of the target, roughly four per cent, had been raised after seven contributors donated funds.

The largest is attributed to the Talbot Arms, who are offering food for spectators during each England World Cup game. Fans are urged to donate towards the food, with all proceeds going towards the cricket club fund.

At the club’s emergency meeting, more than 50 players, supporters and groups from around the local area turned out to offer their backing, some financially.

Speaking to the Bridport News, a delighted Taylor said: “It was better than positive. There were more than 50 players, supporters and local groups there from Lyme & Uplyme – that was quite heartening.

“We met groups that we otherwise wouldn’t have met and to be able to invite them all to the ground on a beautiful evening with a game of cricket going on as well, you couldn’t have asked for much better. There were a lot of people there who do care about cricket in Lyme Regis.”

Taylor added that several groups

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had already donated to the club’s cause, while a crowdfunding campaign has been set up online via crowdfunder.co.uk/paul-messer-memorial-roller

It is also understood that the club has made progress on the structural issues with trustees at the ground.

The club has arranged three fundraisers, firstly on Wednesday, July 25 when Dutch side VAR Amsterdam visit.

An auction of pledges will then be held on Saturday, August 18 at Lyme Regis Football Club, followed five days later at the same venue by an evening with former players, a comedian and impromptu performances.

In their latest match, Uplyme lost by three wickets to Barnstaple & Pilton Seconds in a low-scoring affair at King George V Playing Fields.

The hosts were bowled out for 80, with only Steve Batey (38) making a substantial score as Steve Moore (4-4) returned amazing figures.

But James Whetlor (4-27) took four wickets in the visitors’ reply. Barnstaple and Pilton recovered from a perilous 41-5, including 21no from Robin Norton, to claim the win, which keeps Uplyme rooted to the bottom of the table.