Cirencester Cricket Club are celebrating their 175th anniversary this season but a club that has enjoyed a glorious past are also planning for an exciting future.

Some of those plans have already been put in place with the clubhouse, which is nestled in the heart of Cirencester Park, boasting new changing rooms, new toilet facilities, a bigger bar and new kitchen.

There is still more work to be done with new folding doors to the front of the pavilion remaining on the wishlist.

On the field the club have initiated a five-year plan to improve the state of the wicket.

Former player Charlie Pilkington, who is fronting the club’s anniversary celebrations, said: “We felt the time was right to invest in what benefits the players most, the wicket. The intention being to get a harder and truer wicket, better to bat on, but something for the bowlers too.”

Chairman Nick Price is the driving force behind the pitch improvement plan and club stalwart and groundsman Phil Carter, who has been part of the club for more than 50 years and still plays for the 3rd XI even though he is in his 60s, is the man who will be doing the hard graft.

Pilkington, himself, has a busy few months ahead. “We’ve got a 175th anniversary celebration week from June 30 to July 9,” he said. “The week kicks off with an evening with Henry Blofeld, we’ve got a match against an MCC XI and a veterans match between Gloucestershire and Somerset”.

“We want to cram in as much as possible and get as many people involved as we can.”

Success on the field this season would help their anniversary party go with an even better swing.

After winning the County League Division One title for the last two seasons – they missed out on promotion in 2015 because of the restructuring of the leagues – Cirencester will play in the Gloucestershire Division of the West of England Premier League.

They will be captained once again by spin bowling all-rounder Gareth Williams, who has led them for the past few seasons.

“He has become well established,” said Pilkington. “He’s an astute captain, gives people opportunities but is also firm when he needs to be.”

Pilkington believes consolidation is the name of the game this season.

“I think the aim will be hold our own in the division,” he said. “We’ve got no ideas of grandeur… just yet, but are always looking to strengthen and who knows what could happen with a bit of luck.”

Cirencester will be looking to the Jamieson-Black brothers – Jonno and Jamie – to have an impact at the higher level in 2017. Both are prolific batsmen but equally capable when called upon to bowl.

Tom Fullerlove and Paul Godding are other key players “Both may not be as quick as they used to be, but both will be hoping to be among the wickets again,” said Pilkington.

Below the first team the club caters for as many people who want to play cricket as possible.

They run two further Saturday sides, a T20 team, a friendly Sunday XI, a women’s team and junior teams for boys and girls aged seven to 19.

“It’s an exciting time for the second XI with Bob Lamble’s debut season as 2nd XI captain,” said Pilkington.

“We’re also proud to have seen a former junior player Eve Alder go from playing for our junior teams to representing England Development XI and now part of the Gloucestershire Women set-up.”

Pilkington, 49, stopped playing a couple of years ago. He joined the club in the noughties and captained the 3rd XI.

“I ended up a tidy fielder,” he joked.

“I do a lot of cycling these days and I just have to make sure that the Cirencester Cricket Club bar is on my cycle route.”

Anniversary celebration week menu
June 30 – An evening with Henry Blofeld from 7.30pm and beer festival (running throughout the week)
July 1 – League cricket and 6-a-side tournament
July 2 – Under-9s junior tournament
July 4 – Cirencester CC XI v MCC XI
July 5 – Cirencester CC T20 v CDCA T20 XI
July 6 – Gloucestershire veterans v Somerset veterans
July 7 – Women’s XI v Langford Women’s XI
July 8 – League cricket and Cirencester U12 v Devon U12
July 9 – Club Birthday Lunch and Cirencester CC XI v Cirencester Old Boys XI