DUMBLETON hope to draw on the experience of lifting the Voneus Village Cup two years ago when they make a return trip to Lord’s on Sunday (11am) to face Foxton Granta in the 2024 final.
Skipper Ross Martin was a key member of the squad that became the first Gloucestershire side to win the most famous club trophy of them all after defeating holders Calmore Sports by 86 runs.
And the all-rounder believes memories of that unforgettable day can only help Dumbleton as they bid for more glory.
He said: “Maybe it does give us a slight advantage in terms of being a little less nervous.
“There’s five of us from the team that won before, and we’re well aware of the great opportunity we now have.
“It was a target we set ourselves at the start of the season, to get back to Lord’s, and everyone has stepped up to play their part.
“We love this competition. It really brings in the whole of the club, including all of the spectators, the bench committee, all of the players.
“We really buy into the competition. It’s been fantastic for us and provided brilliant opportunities for us in the last three years.”
Dumbleton go into the final on the back of another hugely successful summer across all sections of the club.
Martin added: “It feels as if we’ve been building a perfect environment here with teams consistently doing well, and that’s been based mainly on products of our youth section stepping up.
“Last year the ones and twos were both promoted, and this year both the seconds and thirds have gone up while we also won the Cheltenham T20 and our 19s qualified for their finals day.
“We’re lucky to have a very talented group of players who play good cricket and also really enjoy being together off the field socially.”
Dumbleton have been on quite a journey to Lord’s with four of their six victories coming on the road to book a final date against Foxton Granta, of Cambridge, who were beaten finalists in 2015.
ALSO heading for Lord’s this weekend are Apperley Girls who are through to the final of the ECB U15 Club T20 on Saturday.
The village side went out of last year’s eight-a-side competition at the semi-final stage, but have gone one further this summer after cruising past Dulwich by seven wickets at Wokingham.
Apperley take on Ramsbotton, of Lancashire, at 2.45pm.
WET weather forced the Stuart Canvas Gloucestershire Cup final and the BOM IT Solutions GCF U19 T20 finals day, both due to be held at the Seat Unique Stadium, to be called off.
The county cup final, between Bristol and Frocester, will now be staged on Saturday September 21 (noon), at Bristol’s Failand ground.
Main image courtesy Aaron Parsons Photography