Our two cricket teams are a real blessing to Mayow Park. They enjoy playing here, and many of us simply enjoy the fact that cricket is now happening again, without really knowing what is going on.

As well as just playing, members of the two clubs, Streatham & Marlborough 5th XI and Caribbean Mix, help with cleaning up the outfield, spreading fertiliser on the outfield and have also helped Iris & Erika in Grow Mayow. Laurie, the Streatham & Marlborough 5th XI captain lives locally, but all the players understand the need to be part of the local community.

So - at the Friends of Mayow Park meeting earlier this week we discussed how to help make this happen. There could be a budget for a community event later this summer, in association with a week of cricket in the first week of September, with the highlight being a special cup on Tuesday Sept 2nd involving the Mayors of Lewisham, Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich. There will also be some international players putting in an appearance.

But most important, we think, is just letting people know about our teams, encouraging them to come and watch, and maybe find out about cricket. For those who can't make a weekday event, we're thinking of making the Sunday before, August 31st, a time when people can come and picnic round the cricket ground, with some of the regular players around to introduce kids to the game. Meanwhile, in the middle there will be a special match in which wives and girlfriends will be involved, and not just as scorers and caterers.

But this Saturday, the cricket will be serious - well, as serious as it gets in Kent Regional Cricket League 1b, in which both our teams compete



and this is our local derby, starting at 1.30, going on till about 6 - 7.00



Come along to that, and also contact me by PM, or post here, with your ideas on how to spread the message about cricket in Mayow Park

I notice that an area hasn't been fenced off this year....

On a more positive note I just wanted to say how pleased I was to see local people enjoying full access to their park this afternoon.
I think it was the formal opening of the new tennis courts so perhaps it was a little busier than usual.

If the renting of the field for cricket was only ever a short term arrangement, to bring funds in for the gym equipment, repave some of the paths, and repurpose the pavilion into quite a busy cafe, then I have to admit, although it was inconvenient, it wasn't such a bad deal.