IT’S 52 years not out for the annual Boxing Day cricket match between Brooksbottom CC and Tottington St. John’s CC and cricketers from both clubs are hoping the fundraising event will be a huge hit again next Friday.

It will be the eighth time that Tottington and the Summerseat club have faced each other in the contest, playing home and away on alternate years.

The traditional Twenty20 friendly between the two local rivals, which takes place regardless of the weather, will be held this year at Brooksbottom’s Rowlands Road ground.

The Summerseat club, who play in the Ribblesdale League, go into the match as favourites having won the previous two events.

The game, which began in 1963, sees the two sides come together to raise much needed funds for both clubs.

The first 43 occasions were played between Brooksbottom Cricket Club and Bolton Road Cricket Club – the last seven between the Brox and Tottington St Johns.

Former Bolton Road player Alan Fletcher explains how the fundraising idea first came about.

“November 1963 seems like yesterday when the late, much missed, Jack Whitmore (Brox) and your Bolton Road scribe put our secretarial heads together to devise a one-off, fundraising Boxing Day cricket match.

The truth was both clubs were skint. Bats were a costly £3 (less discount), match balls ten bob (50p) and annual subscriptions were approaching an eyewatering £2, plus would you believe, Umpires were demanding bus fares on top of their over-generous 75p match fee.

“On that historic fogbound opening day, glowing blazers, surrounded by grateful spectators ringed the arena. The unprepared wicket was frozen, decapitation was a distinct possibility and anapprehensive Bolton Road batsman (me as it happens) nervously faced the first ball.

“In the end the happy treasurers of both clubs shared a £36 life-saving profit with a vow to make the fixture an annual event.”

Tottington St Johns of the North Manchester Cricket League go into this year’s fixture 4-3 down in the series, and development and child welfare officer, Kieran Coe, is looking for revenge to level the scores.

“Brooksbottom are a good couple of leagues above us, so the 4-3 is quite a good success rate,” he said.

“For most people Boxing Day is a time to relax, visit family and friends, watch the telly for hours on end or play with your new Christmas presents. But for two bands of hardy (aka mad) sportsmen, Boxing Day is for cricket.”

There will be a full bar and seasonal refreshments available at the free entry event, which starts at 11am. Match programmes cost £1.50 and all purchases will guarantee entry into a raffle.