TWO CHAMPIONSHIP matches and three T20 Blast fixtures – 11 days of proper cricket – the Cheltenham Cricket Festival lives!

But it is earlier next year so remember the starting date when booking your holidays.

It begins on July 3 with the four-day championship match against Glamorgan. Worcestershire are the other championship opponents beginning on the Sunday, with T20 fixtures thrown in against Middlesex, Kent and Sussex.

Despite the cut in Championship games, Cheltenham remains the focal point of Gloucestershire’s domestic programme.

The eight-city T20 competition is disappearing further and further into the background and the indecision over this matter shows a growing gap between the ECB and the 18 counties.

Apparently the MCC have a vote on this as well. I do not know why a private club are involved. They do run a magnificent ground and that should be as far as it goes.

Yorkshire have appointed former captain Andrew Gale as their head coach. This means the popular Richard Dawson will be remaining at Gloucestershire. Many thought he would be returning to his home county for that job.

Gale has retired as a player to become coach with Yorkshire therefore able to save the salary they paid former coach Jason Gillespie. The appointment looks to me like a cost-cutting exercise, the White Rose county being in considerable debt.

Richard is busy at Bristol with the players in for pre-season training. It used to be April 1 before the professionals turned up, played a few games of football, had a net or two and opened the season with a gentle game at Oxford University.

Now they are put through unspeakable physical torture. I suppose it is all in the name of progress.

It has been a busy week at Forest Green Rovers. The 2-2 draw against Tranmere Rovers was the best non-league game I have ever seen. FGR should have won it but again missed chances.

Tranmere rallied in the second half and the whole game was a marvellous advertisement for the National League.

But their second defeat in eight days – 3-1 at Wrexham on Saturday – means the lead at the top of the table is down to one point.

I understand manager Mark Cooper is going to give the players 'ownership of corners'.

“My plans have not worked lately," said Mark. He is looking to see what his team come up with.

Former county cricket captain Alex Gidman attended the Tranmere match and was impressed. The facilities and standard of football had him gasping; he will return.

Then there was a meet-the-manager session last Tuesday. Cooper was outstanding, being frank without being indiscreet. He explained team selections, tactics, hopes and fears in a manner that was lucid and easy to understand. No question was dodged.

Mrs Light, a stern marker, gave him 10/10; it was a most rewarding evening.

The supporters' club AGM followed and looked at the game in a healthy fashion. Total support was offered to the FA in their dealings with FIFA over this poppy fiasco. A disciplinary inquiry is taking place. There should be one swift result – “No case to answer”.

If watching England did not subsequently numb your brain you will remember how well the pre-kick-off two minute silence was observed. Everyone knew what they were doing and why. The only defence you need, FA, is the TV recording of those few minutes.

I am writing this as Mrs Light packs for our annual visit to Cornwall which coincides with the Padstow Food Festival.

With no match next Saturday because scheduled opponents Eastleigh are involved in the FA Cup, the FGR players, like ourselves, have the chance of a few days off.