FIFTIETH anniversary celebrations are on the horizon for a renowned Dorset cricket team.

The Coffee Taverners, founded in Weymouth in 1974, are set to host a commemorative match between current and past players on Friday, July 12.

The anniversary game is slated for an afternoon slot, of around 30 overs per side in length.

Among their playing staff is Paul Cocks, who played his first game for the club back in 1981.

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And he urged as many former players to get involved as possible.

“We’re having a celebration match at our home ground which is now at Martinstown,” Cocks told Echosport.

“It’s going to be current players against old players, basically anyone who turns up and wants a game will get a game.

“I think we’re going to have more of the ex-players there than the current players.”

Taverners are a nomadic club and have played matches at renowned Dorset grounds such as Littlebredy, Redlands and now Martinstown’s Lower Ashton Farm.

On their travels, Taverners often play at Abbotsbury, Compton House, Plush and Powerstock.

And Cocks explained the origins of the team, which is believed to have started life through a shared love of coffee.

He added: “We seem to stagger on and the average age now has got to be high-60s. We normally rely on a couple of youngsters to run around and field.

“Our strategy now is to bat second.

“Nobody knows how precisely it was formed but it started life as a team for professionals.

“We’re talking about 1974, so bank managers, building society members and estate agents, lawyers, accountants.

“There were lots of those types of people around.

“It’s a bit of a mystery but we think that some of the founder members used to meet at one of the coffee bars in Weymouth and came up with the idea of a cricket team.

“Pretty much everyone in the scene has played for us or against us at some point.”

Weymouth legends Andy Jarvis and Jim Emery, former Weymouth and Dorchester player Raj Lehal and Dorchester’s Tony and George Foot turn out occasionally.

Coffee Taverners welcome all players and spectators to the match.