Reed CC is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and it has come along way since those informal matches played on the meadows behind the old Cabinet public house in the mid-fifties.

For the eighth successive year, Reed is fielding four teams in the Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League.

The first team, who begin on the road at Stevenage in their opener tomorrow (Saturday), will again be competing in the Championship and hope to improve on the fifth place last season.

Tom Greaves, takes over as captain and retains the services of his predecessor, James Heslam, at the top of the order.

Will Heslam, brother of James, will serve as his opening partner.

Chris Jackson will provide solidity in the top order alongside Richard Wharton and Matt Sampson, both relatively new recruits, with Greaves, Sean Tidey, Stuart Smith, Alex Mutucumarana and Mitchell Cooper adding impetus lower down.

Youngsters Reece Fitzgerald and Rob Lankester have already started making claims for regular inclusion in the top flight and Ed Wharton, the Bedfordshire opening bowler, has joined Reed from Hornsey CC.

One or two injuries are hampering Greaves’ plans for a full-strength XI, but when they are all fit the selectors will have a problem to fitting everyone in.

Luckily, the 2nds, after no less than three back-to-back promotions – and as divisional winners each time – are in close proximity to the first team for talent.

Five batsmen passed 300 league runs last year and will continue to strive for a fourth promotion under Marcus Martin’s captaincy in Division 4B.

Mike Robertson has a second term skippering the 3rds in Division 8A and hopes that with the newcomers in the first and second teams, some good players will be able to drop down to the 3rds to provide experience and improve on the performances of 2015.

Also divisional champions last year were the 4ths, captained by Lloyd Bowman.

They too will be looking for promotion this season with a similar make-up of veterans and young, up-and-coming Colts.

The 3rds and 4ths play their home matches at the superb facilities at Freman College, Buntingford.

Once more, Reed has entered the National Village Cup.

They had a bye in the first round so their first fixture will be at home against Bromham (Beds) on May 15.

Providing Reed gets past its first two rounds, the remaining matches will be at home which gives a significant advantage.

The final, traditionally played at world famous Lord’s, is scheduled for September 4.

Additionally, Reed and five other north Hertfordshire clubs have formed a new midweek 20/20 league to be played on Wednesday evenings between May and July. The first match is at Reed versus Stevenage next Wednesday (May 11).

The Sunday fixture list is filled with friendlies against neighbouring village clubs and regular wandering sides.

Reed has three Colts teams in the U11, U12 and U15 age groups.

Unfortunately, the weather has disrupted the start of the season but matches will be rescheduled so that a full programme is played.

It is so different to those far-off days of 1956, but Reed CC has every intention to enjoy their 60th anniversary, play to their best and celebrate in style.