Wednesday 12th July 2006

ABERCARN Cricket club are celebrating their 125th anniversary this week with a string of exciting events.

The week of festivities are capped off tomorrow, when a Glamorgan XI visit the Welfare Ground for a 30-over contest.

The celebrations started last Friday with a friendly match against another local team, before Abercarn's annual six-a-side tournament on Sunday.

Unfortunately, for the first time in memory, the entire day's play was lost to rain, a complete washout.

Last night Abercarn clashed with a select XI, consisting of players specially selected from their Tuesday evening league.

However it is tomorrow's clash with Glamorgan that has the people of Abercarn talking, a chance to see some of the county side's first XI, who are without a fixture until Friday.

The game is scheduled to start at 2.30pm and organisers are hoping for a decent crowd.

Abercarn have been working hard in the past few years to boost their junior ranks and have done so, now boasting an under-9, under-11 and under-13 side.

Dave Tidmarsh, chairman of Abercarn CC, explained: "The facilities we have at the club are remarkable considering we are only a Thomas, Carroll League team.

"We now have a thriving youth set-up and this week is all about celebrating the club and its place in the community.

"It is obviously fantastic for us to have Glamorgan coming to play a game, Glamorgan coach John Derrick gave us the green light and it is superb news for us.

"We are hoping one or two big names may play, Glamorgan don't have a game so there is certainly a chance of some of the big name players coming.

"It will be fantastic for our players play against some quality County Championship players, it should be a brilliant day and a fitting way to mark 125 years."