Ok, it’s impossible, I agree. The answer is that they are all involved with a charity cricket match taking place in Clarence Park this Sunday afternoon.
Actually, the best bit isn’t that it’s free; the best bit is that this family friendly event is all for charity. Sunday’s match has already raised a stunning
£12,000 for Peace Hospice Care.Now, whichever way you look at it, Sunday is a busy day: celebrity cricket and family fun in Clarence Park; the longest day of the year; the Alban Street Festival in the city centre; and it’s Father’s Day. Some would say that’s one huge clash; the wiser amongst you will see that it’s a great opportunity for fab day out on your door-step. Remember, there are no trains to London from St Albans on Sunday (yes, that’s NO TRAINS on Thameslink) so best you stay local and enjoy the fun.
And as if all that wasn’t reason enough to amble down to Clarence Park on Sunday afternoon, there’s another key reason: Sunday’s event is in memory of a local sporting hero. No, not someone who made the headlines, but someone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure children (boys and girls) had the chance to play cricket and football locally in fun, friendly environments where they could learn about the sports and, more importantly, enjoy themselves.
That man was one Phil Milton. Phil died from cancer, aged 56, in 2011. Sunday’s event is to raise money for the Peace Hospice where Phil spent his final days.
Now, Phil didn’t like downbeat; he’d not have approved if this piece focused on grass-roots sport’s sad loss. Instead, he’d want you to pop along on Sunday and have a drink or three in the sunshine, eat too much from the barbecue and heckle the cricketers. He was all about making sure others enjoyed themselves.
If you knew Phil – maybe your kids were part of the hugely successful St Albans Cricket Club Friday night cricket sessions he was the driving force behind – chances are you’ll be going along on Sunday. If you didn’t know Phil then there’s even more reason to go because we all know an unsung hero: someone who makes things happen; someone who just gets on with stuff – often not even the nice stuff – to make things tick. And these kinds of people – and, thankfully, in today’s me-me-me world they
do still exist – are really, really missed when they are gone.Phil was larger than life. He was a big part of the cricket scene in St Albans. He was a big part of everything he did. On Sunday, players who knew him and some who didn’t will enjoy a great day in his memory.
AL3 WTF doesn’t normally like to beg (beer and ice-cream aside), but:
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Please share this post. Please. Cricket/celebs/face-painting etc etc might not be your thing, but you might know someone who’d love to go.– Come along. Loads of money has been raised already so you’ll not get over-pressured on the day. Of course there’ll be chances to donate; we think you’ll want to…or at least buy an ice-cream, a burger or a glass of wine.
– If you come then you’re definitely going to want to buy some raffle tickets. This is a
local event with national-scale prizes. Too many to list in full, but here are a few tasters:§ England cricket shirt as worn and signed by test captain Alastair Cook
§ Football Signed by Harry Redknapp, Ossie Ardiles, Alan Smith, Mick Harford, Graham Roberts , Glenn Hoddle, Brian Stein, Kingsley Black, Cyril Regis and many more
§ Signed John Hartson Celtic shirt
§ Signed Ian Poulter golf shirt
§ Superb suite in a Hotel in Cyprus (to visit, not to keep, that is)
§ A signed Saracens shirt
§ Voucher for a hand-crafted cricket bat
There are going to be all sorts of food and drink concessions; the UK’s premier Star Wars costume group will be on hand for photos and high jinks; five-piece band
An Absolute Shambles will be rounding off the day with covers of the Rolling Stones, Black Crows, Queen and REM, to name but a few; a match commentator from Diverse FM will be make sure the crowd knows what’s going on on the pitch, even if some of the cricketers will appear clueless
If you can’t make it along, then you can donate via
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/sjfcc All the money raised goes to Peace Hospice Care. We all hope that none of us nor our friends or family will ever need to draw on a hospice’s services and care, but the harsh reality is that some of us will. Fact. What better way to make a little contribution and make someone else’s end of life experience just that little bit better than by having some fun in the sun.
Happy Longest Day. Happy Father’s Day. Be there Sunday.