Ex-England cricketer set to appear at club’s first ever international match – and it’s all thanks to Vatican City meeting

Elton Cricket Club will stage a masters cricket match between England Lions 60s Cricket and West Indies Masters this Fathers’ Day.

Roland Butcher, who became the first black player to represent England in 1980, is expected to attend the game, a historic occasion for one of the town’s oldest cricket clubs.

The invite to be part of the international teams’ 2025 schedule only came about thanks to a chance meeting in Rome by one of the club’s committee members.

Members are now rallying round to host their prestigious guests, with junior players set to form a guard of honour and a post-match celebratory meal planned.

Elton committee member Mark Burns, who plays for the club, was holidaying with wife Kim and son Luke when he received a call asking if he could fly to Italy to help a cricket team that was one player short for its game against the Vatican Cricket Team.

He said: “It was an opportunity I couldn’t miss, without question, so we jumped on a plane and went to Rome. I got talking with Paul Bradley, the manager of England 60s Cricket and, when he found out we were associated with a cricket club, he asked if we’d be interested in hosting a match.”

The game, on Sunday, June 15, will see England Lions 60s Cricket team take to the field for a 45-over match against the West Indies Masters side.

Barbados-born Mr Butcher, who played for Middlesex, is the vice president of the Seniors County Championship, and will be a guest of the club, which is hoping as many people as possible will attend.

Both national anthems will be played before the first ball is bowled at 1pm, with a commentator providing a live overview of events.

Entry is free for spectators and there will be food and drinks available.

Chairman Warren Hornby said it was a proud occasion for the club, which has over 400 members and is a founder member of the Greater Manchester Cricket League.

He said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming the England Lions and West Indies teams to Leigh Lane and hope the community will come and join us for this historic event.

“Bringing international cricket to Elton Cricket Club has really captured the imagination of all of our members, who are rallying round to make sure the day is a huge success. Clubs like ours couldn’t function without the support of volunteers and it seems fitting that people have been working tirelessly to prepare for our visitors during Volunteers’ Week.

“It should be a great day with some fantastic cricket played, a real community occasion, and we’d like to thank the teams for giving us the opportunity to show what Elton Cricket Club can do.”