FORMER Furness Cricket Club players will be digging out their old their old whites, bats and pads this summer to take part in a charity tournament.

The Furness CC Past and Present Day is being held at the Oxford Street club on Friday July 15 and promises to be an entertaining spectacle.

Four teams of mixed past and present Rams players will contest the semi-finals, with the two winning teams going through to the final in a 12-overs-per-innings format.

In addition, former first team captain Martin Lewis will take on B-team skipper Gavin Dale in a five-over Big Bash challenge, with the loser donating £100 to the event’s chosen charity Jo’s Appeal.

The action starts at 2pm with music throughout and food and refreshments available all day, and when the cricket is finished there will be a special Furness CC-themed quiz in the bar.

Any former Furness players who haven’t already signed up for the day are encouraged to do so – even if they don’t fancy taking to the field.

Pete Lawson, Furness first team opening bowler and one of the event organizers, said: “We already have loads of players signed up for it and we are aiming for the biggest Furness get-together ever!

“We are looking for ex-players to take part on and off the field so even if their playing days are too far behind them it would still be great to see them attend.”

Jo’s Appeal is a charity set up by ex-Furness player Matt Davies in memory of his wife Jo-anne, a former Evening Mail features writer, who died of ovarian cancer last August, aged 38.

Fund-raisers have so far amassed £30,000 for the appeal to boost the coffers of Jo’s chosen good causes – national women’s cancer charity The Eve Appeal, St Mary’s Hospice, and the oncology unit at Furness General Hospital.

Matt, 44, who played junior and senior cricket at Furness for 30 years from 1980 to 2010, is very grateful to his old club for helping out.

“It’s a great idea to have a Past and Present Day and it’s brilliant that Furness have volunteered to help raise money for Jo’s Appeal as well,” he said.

“I haven’t played for a good few years but I still have a lot of mates at Furness and it should be a great day and a good laugh.”

l More information about the event can be found on the Furness Facebook page or Twitter (@furnesscc) or contact Pete Lawson (07525 436133) Scott Pearcey (07809 362428) Garry Thompson (07809 836473) or George Smith (07792 077854).