Cricket conjures up the idyllic scene of a clear summer's day, with a game taking place on the village green in genteel surroundings with passers-by stopping to pay a fleeting or not so fleeting visit to the cricket.
An alternative view can be seen in the cut-throat Test matches which have dominated satellite television sport over the winter.
As is often the case the truth at club level is somewhere in between.
Since the middle of January thoughts have bee
n turning to the Village People's Summer Tour 2009, when Preston Village Cricket Club, with sponsorship from the Prestoungrange Gothenburg, start their challenge for Division 3 of the East of Cricket Association, seeking to continue their development which has seen them moving consistently up the leagues in the past 10 years.
In addition to the 1st XI tour the club also run a 2nd XI every Saturday and a development team which plays friendly games on some of the best cricket grounds in Scotland, along with its junior section, "The Preston Village Panthers."
ExperiencedThe Panthers completed their first ever season in the U-13 league last year and have already been training indoors to ready themselves for the new season.
In short the "Village People" can offer cricket at any level or age from the experienced player to the total novice.
Whichever category you fall into you will be the club which has been arguably the most successful cricket club in East Lothian over the past decade offers a friendly welcome to new players whatever the level of cricket they want to play.
Senor training takes place on Tuesdays and Thursday at Polwarth Park from 6.45pm with junior training on a Wednesday at the same location from 6.15pm onwards.
Alternatively the club can be contacted on via its website
http://prestonvillage.hitscricket.com, by e-mail on prestonvillagecc@btinternet.com or by calling Ian Patterson on 07961641442
