Nairn County Cricket Club to renew acquaintances with 40 Club in honour of former player Neil Gibson
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Nairn County Cricket Club will host the Scottish 40 Club tomorrow in memory of one of their former players.
Neil Gibson was a regular fixture at the Links, but tragically died two years ago.
At the beginning of last season, Nairn decided to invite the 40 Club to play a special match that doubled as a fundraiser for Torridon Mountain Rescue.
It was so well received that the two teams decided to make it an annual contest, although it will not be a fundraiser this time around due to Covid-19.
“We decided to make it an annual fixture at the beginning of the season,” the club’s Dave Wolton explained.
“Obviously this year, with Covid, we couldn’t play, so we switched it to the end of the season. It’s our last game this year.
“Last year it raised £1630 I think in the end. We had an auction of cricket memorabilia, we had a signed Ricky Ponting bat, some other stuff that we got too – some tickets for Scotland matches.
“We had some good donations from people, but this year it’s not going to be a fundraiser, it’s going to be in name only.”
Wolton, also a player for the 40 Club, helped organise the match.
He will be taking to the field against his usual teammates tomorrow as he plays for the visitors, and he might not be alone.
Nairn’s first team captain Mike Davis has missed this year so far through injury, but could also be in the 40 Club side.
So Wolton is prepared for the strange experience of facing players he usually stands alongside.
“It will be strange, but I think it will be good fun,” he said.
“No doubt I’ll get plenty of banter when I’m out there, but I’m looking forwad to it.
“Mike Davis – our first team captain who hasn’t played a first team match this year with a nerve injury in his leg – has been undergoing physio so hopefully he’ll be fit.
“He would actually be captaining the Forty Club against Nairn, so hopefully the weather is good.”
Read the full edition of today's Inverness Courier.
