IT’S the cricket cup that offers village amateurs the chance of fulfilling their dreams – walking through the Long Room to play at Lord’s.
The National Village Cup reaches its 40th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, the MCC has become an affiliate sponsor and The Times is the competition’s media partner.
Launched in 1971 by The Cricketer, the world’s biggest selling cricket magazine, the Village Cup is still run by staff on the title.
Last year’s winner was Woodhouses, the Lancashire club which Mike Atherton played for as a teenager. The trophy was presented in front of the Lord’s pavilion by last year’s MCC president Christopher Martin-Jenkins, himself a former Times cricket correspondent.
This year, to commemorate the 40th anniversary, the MCC will be hosting a gala dinner in the Long Room for finalists, sponsors, officials and guests.
The dinner is to be held on the eve of the final in September and current MCC president Phillip Hodson will give a special address.
Colin Maynard, Acting Secretary of MCC, said: “The Club is delighted to assist The Cricketer in the Village Cup’s 40th-anniversary celebrations. MCC encourages cricket at every level and in all formats, and this year’s association with the Cup is naturally consistent with that aim.”
Tim Hallissey, sports editor of The Times, added: “We wish The Cricketer and everyone who plays in the Village Cup the best of luck in its 40th year and we are delighted to be associated with probably the most enjoyable competition in cricket.”
Your club can join this brilliant and unique competition by downloading and filling in the form here (word document).
Send it to The Cricketer at 70 Great Portland Street, London W1W 7UW, or at the email addresses provided on the form.
Full rules and further information can be found at thecricketer.com/villagecup
Closing date for entries is February 3 and the full draw will take place on February 7.
www.thetimes.co.uk
www.lords.org/mcc
Any sign of the “Full draw” made yesterday 07 February 2012, please?
Hi, as the draw was scheduled to take place yesterday, when will the draw be published on the website?
Just wanting to know the same as the guys above, we need to organise fixture cards and pre season friendies.
Thanks
Any sign of the draw made two days ago being published?
I need to juggle fixtures around to ensure ground availability if we are drawn at home.
If one cares to check up the number of teams entered in this years competition compared with 2011. 286 entered in 2011 this year 258 this means 28 teams who entered last year have chosen not to do so in 2012. I wonder why this is could it be the adverse publicity the competition generated last year? Lets hope the rules are strictly adhered to and any contravention of these to be severely dealt with.