IT is only two years since members of Four Marks Cricket Club hit their final runs before making the tough decision to hang up their boots – but thanks to a new injection of case, their pitch is now in use again.

Four Marks Parish Council has provided the funding for Alton Cricket Club’s young colts team to play there, which is good news for Chris Bentley, a former captain and later chairman of the club.

Chris played his first game of cricket when he was just 10 years old and went on to play for the club for over 40 years. Growing up in Four Marks, and one of a large family, Chris was encouraged to play cricket by his brother Gordon who was already playing for the club.

The club, he recalled, was founded in 1965 by Geoff Peake, a good all-round player. “As a young player in the early ‘70s, the team struggled to get enough players, but Geoff and I walked around the village posting flyers through letterboxes. It was one of those flyers that brought Dave Jakeway to the club, who went on to become captain for a number of years and spent many hours working to get the pitch in good shape.

Chris said: “When I joined the club we only played friendly matches, but in the early ’80s we went on to play league cricket being a member of the Farnham District League and also the Hampshire Cricket League.

“Playing for Four Marks Cricket Club gave me the opportunity to play for the Further Friars – a team originally put together by cricketing legend John Arlott - playing in a number of fixtures, including tours to Spain and South Africa.

“John also opened our new wicket and stayed for the afternoon as we played a celebratory game between the club team and the President’s Eleven, captained by Bryan Timms and including ex-County players. Rain interrupted play if I remember, making it an honorary draw!

“In the Millennium year, thanks to money from the Benian Trust and the Parish Council, the Club continued to thrive and was revitalised with a new cricket pavilion which served as a great backdrop to play our Saturday league games and friendlies on a Sunday.

“We played in various divisions of the Hampshire League including North One. We also played in the Bass Evening League, the Gazette Indoor Cricket League and won several of the Medstead Knock-out competitions.

“Sadly as we got older there just weren’t enough youngsters coming into the club to take our place and we gradually began to run out of players.

“As sad as I am that Four Marks Cricket Club is no longer playing, I am delighted that the fabulous grounds and facilities are being used and that cricket is once again being played in Four Marks.”