Stars from the past in charity cricket match
1:02pm Thursday 15th May 2008
A CHARITY cricket match will help raise funds for schoolchildren to go on an overseas cricket tour.
Dartford Council has given Leigh City Academy and Dartford Cricket Club the green light to host a fundraising cricket match on July 4 at Hesketh Park, in Park Road, Dartford.
A team of former international test players called the Lashings World XI will play a team of the best young players from schools around Dartford in a 35-over match.
Players in the provisional Lashings squad include former England one-day specialist, Adam Hollioake, the ex-Australian batsmen Greg Blewett, and West Indies superstar, Richie Richardson, who will captain the side.
Money raised from the event will partly go towards a cricket tour around Antigua for 30 Leigh City students, aged 13 to 15, in April next year. The students will play a range of teams across the island during their 10-day tour.
The rest of the money raised will go to charity.
Executive principal of the academy, Frank Green, said: "It's such an amazing opportunity for these prospective young cricketers to play against the quality players from the past. It can only be good for them.
"In total I think we need around £10,000 and I hope that the event will fund a big chunk of that while the rest will go to charity.
He added: "This event is also about the community and schools of Dartford coming together to achieve something special."
People who attend the match will be asked to pay a voluntary entrance fee of £5 which will include a meal as well as other cricketing activities which will be available around the park.
It has not yet been decided which charities will benefit from the proceeds. The park will still be open to the public for general use.
For more information on the Lashings World XI visit lashings.co.uk