GREENMOUNT will welcome a host of cricketing legends next weekend as part of the club's 150th anniversary celebrations.

A club select XI will take on a Lashings side packed full of familiar faces next Thursday (July 13).

Lashings' line-up is still to be fully confirmed, but it will definitely include West Indian great Gordon Greenidge and former England internationals Monty Panesar, John Emburey and Martin Bicknell.

The following day (Friday, July 14), a Marylebone Cricket Club XI will take to the Brandlesholme Road pitch against some of the club's best young players ahead of a summer ball later that evening.

Chairman Bill Elkin believes the events will form a fitting celebration of the club's landmark birthday.

"I still feel like one of the new guys here, even though I have been at Greenmount for 14 years and been chairman since 2011," he said.

"Everyone involved at the club are just carrying a torch, for those who have been before and those yet to come. So it is an honour to be involved with these celebrations and hopefully they will do justice to Greenmount – past and present.

"We aim for Greenmount to be a real community club, so hopefully there is something to help everyone join in with the party.

"It should certainly be a great weekend. I have never seen Lashings play before so I am really looking forward to that."

The Lashings All Stars will be offering coaching in the morning, before joining members for a lunch in a marquee specially set up for the weekend.

"We really excited to be playing at a club like Greenmount with such a proud history," said Lashings' director of cricket, former England and Surrey batsman David Smith. "An anniversary like this is a special occasion and we're honoured to be a part of it."

Tickets are still available for the luncheon and it will be £5 admission on the gate for the charity T20 match, which will also feature a host of returning former Greenmount players as well as some of the current first team.

There is no charge to watch the MCC match on the Friday, and food and drink will be available on both days.

Tickets for the club's summer ball are still available at £35, which will include a Prosecco reception, a three-course meal and entertainment from Elvis entertainer Paul Larcombe.

If anyone would like further information about either event, contact the club or Gareth Williams on 07899 954165 or email gareth.williams@ghwsolicitors.co.uk

n Read Gareth Williams' history of Greenmount on this website next week, tracking the major events in the club's 150 years, from the first recorded match against Tottington in 1867 through to the glory years in the Bolton League when they won the treble and put out teams featuring legendary Australian batsmen Mark Taylor and Matthew Hayden.