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Horsham hoping for bumper Sussex crowds
THOUSANDS of cricket fans are expected to descend on Horsham Cricket Club next week as a second century of county cricket at the venue gets underway.
2008 marked 100 years of the Horsham County Cricket Festival, and although weather played its part in the championship and Pro40 games against Somerset and Worcestershire not producing a result, the atmosphere was electric.
Festival organiser Barry Peay, who has been involved in the Sussex visits since 1971, hopes for a strong turnout to see Mike Yardy's team re-ignite their championship campaign against Nottinghamshire and maintain a good Pro40 start against Gloucestershire, despite the recession.
Mr Peay said: "I hope that with Sussex reaching the Twenty20 finals day, that keeps the of interest going. There has been a general upsurge for Sussex in recent years, and on top of that it would be good to see some of our own (Horsham) players out there.
"Notts are a good side and if he plays it will be very good to see Ryan Sidebottom in action, though I honestly do not know who will come in terms if support."
A sun kissed Cricketfield Road, packed with 3,000 fans, basked in glorious conditions on the first day against Somerset this time last year, before the rains came.
"We think people like coming to Horsham," Mr Peay remarked. "The first day was fantastic last year, it was one of the most atmospheric days I can remember here for a long time. "The weather was not in our favour from that point on though. When the sun is out here there is no better place to be.
"Part of our attraction is being what we are, which is cricket in country surroundings. People can wander around the ground, there are many advantages of being at Horsham."
"It's as high a level sporting event as you will get in Horsham in terms of the standard. I think it's the kind of event that the town wants."
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Weather for Horsham
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
