Alton Cricket Club Souvenir Programme of Ye Old Tyme Cricket Match, which took place on Sunday 2nd September 1951.

The match was originally scheduled for Saturday, 7th July but appears to have been postponed, eventually taking place at Anstey Park on Sunday 2nd September.

The event drew a large crowd despite the rain, with several newspapers carrying the match report over the next week, including the West Sussex Gazette which carried this article the following day:

‘It Was Cricket By 1774 Rules

Alton Cricket Club made a novel contribution to the town's Festival of Britain celebrations yesterday by staging at Anstey Park a cricket match of Broad-halfpenny Down vintage authentic Regency Costumes and gear, the application of 1774 rules, and scores marked by notches cut into lengths of sticks with clasp knives.

It was all good fun and drew many spectators.

The match was played between an eleven selected by the club's skipper, Don Wilson, who were all out for 94, and Mr. John Rollett's XI, who were all out for 105 and were declared the winners by 11 runs.

In conclusion, the sides played for a gallon of beer, each player bowling four balls. Mr. Rollett's XI were again the victors by one run, making 25 runs to the other side's 24.

Don Wilson had the pleasure of paying for the gallon of beer!’