Surrey cricket fans get chance to meet heroes

Surrey County Cricket Club is to throw open the doors of its Guildford Cricket Centre for a special evening event, where fans of last season's county champions can meet their heroes face-to-face.

The Surrey First team squad, including Mark Butcher, Graham Thorpe, Alec Stewart, Alex Tudor, Martin Bicknell and Alistair Brown, will be mingling with visitors at the annual showcase of facilities and equipment at the Surrey Cricket Centre, based at Guildford's George Abbot School in Woodruff Avenue.

On show during the special open evening, from 5pm until 10pm on 21 March, will be the county championship trophy, which was reclaimed by the Surrey team last season for the first time in 28 years.

Entrance is free and there is a 10 per cent discount on any pre-season equipment purchases made on the night - all cricket fans are welcome. Surrey County Cricket Club members will benefit from a further 10 per cent off any purchases made on the night, explained Mark Lebus, the club's Commercial & Retail Manager.

He said: "Our club home at the Foster's Oval may be one of the jewels in the crown of English cricket, but too few people are aware of our excellent Cricket Centre at Guildford, which plays such a vital role in developing and facilitating the game in Surrey.

"This special evening, generously supported by many of the biggest suppliers in cricket equipment, is a unique opportunity for Surrey-based fans to view first hand the facilities on site.

"As a very special bonus, several of the key first team players will be on hand during the evening to meet visitors, which will be one of the last non-playing appearances by the team in public before the new season gets underway on 10 April."

A vast selection of top quality cricket clothing and equipment will be available for purchase during the evening - with many suppliers guaranteeing fantastic offers. Suppliers who will be exhibiting are: Slazenger, Gunn & Moore, Gray Nicols, Newbery, Kookaburra, Readers and Hunts County.

One of the focal points of the evening will be a prize draw made by one of the players, offering one lucky visitor the chance to win two corporate hospitality tickets to the England v Zimbabwe One Day International on 8 July, all food and drink included (worth £500).

Ten runners-up will walk away with a full size signed bat with signatures of the entire 1999 County Championship winning squad. Further prizes of brand new cricket equipment will be included on the night.