IT HAS never happened before. People are stopping me in the street and praising Gloucestershire County Cricket Club for all the right reasons.

In addition to the emergence of a talented group of young players, nothing typified the spirit within the squad better than the reaction of Hamish Marshall to the S.O.S he received from Swansea.

After Craig Miles had broken down before play started, captain-for-the-game Will Tavare and coach Richard Dawson were faced with an emergency.

A half-fit Hamish sped to Swansea and how well he responded, scoring 70 despite running on one leg! It turned out to be a match-winning innings.

Also typical of the soaring spirits within the club is the form and attitude of Benny Howell. Not selected for the opening games, Benny did not sulk.

He forced his way into the team, and has scored valuable runs and taken good wickets.

Able to vary his pace, he is a fine limited-over bowler. He fully deserved his new two-year contract.

Married on the blank day of the Cheltenham Festival, he is certainly having a season to remember.

A few facts need clearing up about Cheltenham. Firstly, it is vital to the club's finances. Gate money, sponsorship, corporate bookings and membership numbers all contribute to the club coffers.

We not only want to keep a thriving festival – we need to.

Any view that those “at Bristol” do not care about the Festival's future is total rubbish. However, we are not masters of our own destiny.

Our friends at Cheltenham College can only accommodate us during a limited period. We have to set up, play, and move out during the school summer holidays.

The Festival fixtures therefore are determined by the nature of cricket played nationally during our small window of opportunity.

The programme for 2017, now being discussed, may cause problems.

Championship fixtures could be cut from six to 12, and a franchised T20 Blast may take place in July and early August when no championship cricket is played. So what will be left for Cheltenham?

Now I am back on the Forest Green football beat, other sports journalists I encounter ask exactly this question, respecting Cheltenham as a jewel in cricket’s crown. “But for how long?” they add.

Gloucestershire will fight valiantly for a fixture list that means a workable and watchable Festival, but in the final analysis they are one vote out of 18 counties. Nothing is yet set in stone, and the ECB does listen.

I urge you, therefore, to write to the ECB, Lord's Cricket Ground, London, NW8, and address your letters to Colin Graves the chairman. Every little voice will help.

My football watching has been as glorious as the cricket. Forest Green are riding high with three wins from three matches. No goals have been given away and the team is playing adventurous, attacking football.

Mrs Light is uncertain about the new vegan menu, but is thrilled by the football fare on offer. We shall both be watching them play Lincoln City on Saturday, hoping for another helping of points.

Gloucestershire cricketers have two games against Surrey this week. These will be real tests. Now Surrey have put more emphasis on their homegrown talent, they have become stronger and stronger, and are the best team in the division.

Playing for them are the two sons of former Gloucestershire all-rounder Kevin Curran. Like their father, they both bowl quick.

Congratulations to the cricketers of Cirencester! After so many years of being nearly-men, they have made sure of being crowned champions of division one in the county league! It’s a much-deserved honour, and now I’ll close with a question.

Which local footballer is about to start his 33rd season in senior football? Signing for Cirencester Town at the age of 17, he has graced local football fields ever since.