If the weather behaves itself and the bar staff are ready for a long afternoon, President’s Day at Lowfield usually ends up being one of the best Sundays of the summer.

On Sunday 7th June, Hoddesdon Cricket Club President Peter Grant — or simply “Cranker” to virtually everybody around the club — is once again inviting members, supporters, former players, family and friends to Lowfield for the annual President’s Day fixture between a Club XI and the President’s XI.

Play starts at 1.30pm in a 35-overs-per-side contest, with lunch for the players served beforehand at 12.30pm. And while the fixture is technically a friendly, anybody who has ever watched one of these games knows full well that the word “friendly” tends to disappear after about the third over.

There is already plenty of quality lined up in the President’s XI too, with Richard Byrne, Dan Miller, Mark Feely, Sharky, Clay Stone and Ben Wilson all expected to feature, while the club is also hopeful of welcoming back Jayden Broodryk for the occasion. A few more familiar names are still expected to be added before the day arrives.

For older members, it is always a brilliant chance to catch up with former teammates and club characters who perhaps are not seen around Lowfield quite as often these days. For younger players, it is usually an eye-opening afternoon of hearing increasingly exaggerated stories from players who apparently all averaged 75 with the bat and bowled at 90mph during their peak years. By midway through the innings, somebody will almost certainly be explaining how they once chased 250 on this ground using half a bat and a torn hamstring.

That is part of the charm of President’s Day.

The annual gathering has become one of those fixtures people look out for every season. It has never needed gimmicks or huge fanfare. Just decent cricket, familiar faces, plenty of laughter, and the chance to spend a Sunday afternoon at Lowfield with good people.

Peter himself issued the following invitation to members and supporters:

“I would like to invite ALL members and supporters to Lowfield on Sunday 7th June for the annual fixture between a Club XI and a President’s XI.”

And if previous years are anything to go by, there should be plenty of spectators around the boundary enjoying the action with a drink in hand while keeping a close eye on who can still move properly between the wickets and who perhaps now requires a runner after reaching 20.

The cricket itself should still be highly entertaining.

Clay Stone turning up alone tends to guarantee at least one moment of chaos, while players like Richard Byrne and Dan Miller are far too competitive to simply stroll through an afternoon game without trying to win it properly. Meanwhile, the Club XI will no doubt enjoy the opportunity to test themselves against several players who represented Hoddesdon with distinction over the years.

As ever at Hoddesdon, the social side of the day will be just as important as the cricket in the middle.

A two-course President’s Lunch will be available from 1.30pm for members and guests at £28.50 per head, giving everyone the perfect excuse to settle in for the afternoon and enjoy one of the club’s most relaxed and enjoyable events of the season.

The lunch can be booked directly through Peter Grant via email at peter.c.grant@btinternet.com or simply click HERE

You can also call Cranker to book on 01992 462046 or 07808 365142.

Lowfield always seems to feel slightly different on President’s Day. Former players drift back through the gates. Stories get retold for the hundredth time. Old scorebooks suddenly become very important pieces of evidence in arguments nobody can quite remember starting. Somebody will mention a team trip from 1997. Somebody else will swear blind they never edged it.

Perfect.

Days like this are a reminder of how many people help shape a cricket club over the years. Not just the players who score hundreds or take wickets, but the characters, volunteers, scorers, captains, supporters and committee members who keep turning up season after season. Cranker himself has been one of those figures around Hoddesdon Cricket Club for many years now, and President’s Day remains one of the highlights of the calendar because of the effort and enthusiasm people like him continue to put into it.

Everybody at Hoddesdon Cricket Club would therefore encourage members, supporters and former players to get down to Lowfield on Sunday 7th June and enjoy what should be another fantastic afternoon.

There will be good cricket. There will be questionable running between the wickets. There will probably be at least one disputed catch. And there will definitely be a few stories that improve dramatically by the time the sun starts going down over Lowfield.

Exactly as President’s Day should be.

#GreenMachine