Monsters - we're almost there
by Alan Rowley, 7th February 2004

On Sunday July 20th, the North Derbyshire Mammoths tangle with the South Derbyshire Leviathans in a gut-to-gut battle that is likely to shake the foundations of buildings all over the Ripley area. Twenty-two of the finest heavyweight cricketers in the area are all set to clash head-on in aid of young Alfie Swift.

The main organisers, Kev Flint, Alex Burnham, Andy Mitchell, Danny Parkin and Alan Rowley have been meeting regularly throughout the last few weeks since Flint, in a moment of madness, suggested a Heavyweight XI on the site message board. Since then, the event has snowballed beyond all our expectations.

Although the final running order is not quite finalised, the event is likely to start at around 1:00pm with a Kwik Cricket competition before the Monsters enter the arena at around 3:00pm. In the evening, an auction completes the day before the organisers can sit back and relax over a pint in Marehay's excellent pavilion.

Rob Wood, of Beechdale Motors, has stepped in as main sponsor for the event, and we have also had some very generous sponsorship from Middlebrook Transport and owzat-cricket. We are confident that our efforts will send young Alfie off to the States with a huge grin on his face.

Also lined up for the day so far is a burger van, ice-cream van, a bouncy castle and slide and a bowl at the stump competition. Other events are still to be finalised. The evening auction has already started on the website to give readers who can't make it on the day, a chance to participate. The highest bids for each item will go forward as the reserve price on the night.

On the player front, Sting In The Tail Player of the Year 2002 David Adams is the latest addition to the line-up. Bassetlaw champions Cutthorpe are represented by skipper Mark Barlow, and the holder of the County League's most runs in a season record, Neil Sparham, is also donning his pads to help. Popular Denby player Mick Glenn is also expected to turn out, as well as Charlie Noblet, the Radcliffe-on-Trent President.

Also due to perform are Mark Beard (Tibshelf), Roger Young (Matlock), Kevin Flint (Tibshelf), James Franco (Marehay), Adam Harchuk (Stapleford), Gordon Shaw (Heanor Town), Gary Hickinbottom (Shipley Hall), Simon Brown (Denby), Andy Mitchell (South Wingfield), Pete Maloney (Tibshelf), John Flowers (Clifton), Trevor Sparham (Denby), Pat Tideswell (Tibshelf), Chris Knighton (Butterley), Dennis Kemp (Tibshelf), Martin Kelly (Stretford) and Simon Bush (Tibshelf).

If you would like to add yourself to this select list, please contact alan@derbyshirecricket.info as soon as possible and we will accomodate you.

If you would like to help on the day, or can organise an event, or raffle, at your club, please let us know. Parkin and Rowley will be touring the area on the Saturday before the game to collect for the fund, so if you would like us to call in at your club, please get in touch.

Help us to make this day a day to remember. As Grizzly said on the message board: "If one person gives a little, a little difference is made, but if a lot of people give a little then the difference to Alfie's life will be huge. Let's show that cricket, no matter how serious, can be fun and help make someone else's life, other than our own, better for a change."