COME and discover one of the oldest cricket clubs in the country on your doorstep – that's the rallying cry from Brian Woodcock, one of the organisers of Cirencester Cricket Club's 175th anniversary celebrations which begin later this month.

There is a comprehensive and varied cricket programme in place from June 29 to July 9 with something to suit everyone – and entry to all the matches is free of charge.

Refreshments will be available at all games and all profits will be reinvested in upgrading club facilities.

The MCC are sending a team to take on Cirencester on July 4 and there will be a fascinating Overs 70s clash between Gloucestershire and Warwickshire two days later.

Test Match Special commentator Henry Blofeld will be bringing his entertaining roadshow to the club on June 30.

On both Sundays there will be district and club youth matches which promise to be special.

Throughout the festivities a marvellous exhibition has been curated inside the newly-refurbished pavilion with a timeline from 1842 to the present day – 175 years of club history and memorabilia on display.

Woodcock said: "I'm particularly looking forward to Sunday, June 9 when we will see the return of all available former captains (1st, 2nd and 3rd XI) from 1972 and all the club officers from that period.

"I'm delighted we have something for everyone – from the five-year-old All Stars cricketers trying the game for fun to the more mature likes of Phil Carter and the returning Dick Tugwell.

"There is girls' and ladies' cricket too."

The full programme for Cirencester CC’s 175th anniversary is as follows:

Thursday, June 29: St James’s Place annual six-a-side tournament.

Friday, June 30: Evening with Henry Blofeld and Lashings at The Park.

Saturday, July 1: 2nd XI v Oaksey CC (1pm); Club Fun Six-a-Side Cricket competition from 12.30.

Sunday, July 2: Under-9 District Festival and Girls’ Festival sponsored by Gecko Cricket. BBQ & cream teas, bouncy castle. Sponsored by P Beard.

Tuesday, July 4: Cirencester XI v MCC from 11.30am. Sponsors' lunch and cream teas for the public.

Wednesday, July 5: Cirencester T20 XI v CDCA T20 Select XI (6pm) + BBQ.

Thursday, July 6: Gloucestershire v Warwickshire Over 70s (2pm).

Friday, July 7: Women’s XI v Langford; All Stars Finale.

Saturday, July 8: Cirencester U12/13 v East Devon U12 (10.30am); 2nd XI v Cam CC (1pm).

Sunday, July 9: Club birthday lunch, cake cutting, bouncy castle sponsored by P Beard. Three club youth games sponsored by Gecko Cricket. Senior XI v Old Ciren XI T20.

For more information please call 07851004725 or email brianwoodcock@hotmail.co.uk.