European cricket comes to Folkestone

Kent County Cricket Club, in partnership with Shepway District Council, is to stage its first European Tournament in Folkestone from 12-14 September 2001. Teams from Holland and France will compete with a Kent Cricket Board XI and a Kent County XI in a four-way competition, aimed at stimulating further interest in the game in Europe.

Councillor Robert Bliss, District Secretary for Economic Development at Shepway District Council, said "It's great to be involved with Kent County Cricket Club to bring this very unusual tournament to Folkestone. It is our aim to get first class cricket back to the town after an absence of many years and this tournament is just the start. I am sure it will be a big success and will become an annual event involving the best in Europe and the best in Kent. We are really looking forward to it."

Kent County Cricket Club's Chief Executive, Paul Millman, added "We are delighted to be working with Shepway District Council in staging this event. We are sure there is huge potential for the game in Europe and there is no better place than Folkestone to start this development. We hope in time to be able to ask other European countries to take part."

A match schedule and details of ticket arrangements are available from the Kent office.