The world’s oldest active cricket club – Marylebone Cricket Club – will play a game at White Coppice during Coppicefest.

The match will take place on Sunday June 22nd and will form one of centrepieces of the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations.

The MCC XI will be captained by former White Coppice player Peter Deakin, who is thought to be the only Coppice player to have played first class cricket.

The game will be extra special for Peter who returns to play for the first time since his father Reg, died in 2024 at the age of 92 after a 50-year association with White Coppice and the cricket club.

Peter said: “When I realised White Coppice Cricket Club was 150 years old in 2025 I was keen on the idea of offering an MCC match to celebrate such a fantastic club have such fond memories of, and a club which was close to my parents and family. 

“We arrived at White Coppice in 1974 and stayed in the village for the next 50 years.

“My parents, Reg and Kath, loved village life, the idyllic scenery and I remember walking up the track with them to discover the beautiful setting of the ground in the summer of 1974.  My Dad soon got involved and joined the cricket club’s committee in 1980 and became a Vice President.”

Peter’s own association with White Coppice stretches back nearly half a century, which saw him play for the U18s; 2nd XI; and 1st XI. 

It was a bit of a family affair at one stage with brother John also playing for the U18s and 2nd XI, Peter’s twin sister Sarah picking up scoring duties and older sisters, Jill and Ann, helping Kath with tea duties!

He recalled: “I made my debut for the U18s when I was nine or 10 and played for them for nine years.

“I then played for the 2nds when Alan Davies was captain. He used to stand in the slips and if he couldn’t reach the ball he let it hit his shins. The club was full of characters such as Alan and club stalwart Geoff Haydock.

“I made my 1st XI debut when I was 15 and was an off spin bowler. The club had some really talented players like Dave Smethurst and Ivan Nuttall.”

Peter’s burgeoning talent saw him leave White Coppice – although he said the club never left him.

His parents Reg and Kath continued to watch cricket at White Coppice for more than 40 years and provided their son with regular updates.

“When I was 17, I moved to Leyland DAF where the captain was Dave Makinson and really helped develop my game,” he said. 

“I went to play in Australia alongside Ian Austin for Maroochydore CC in Queensland, and played for Lancashire U19s and Lancashire 2nd XI, where some of my team-mates was Lancashire legends Glen Chapple, Graeme Fowler and John Crawley”

Described as a right-handed batsman and off break bowler, he studied at Durham University and Cambridge University, which included playing at Lord’s.

He represented the university in six first-class matches during the 1996 season, scoring 100 runs and taking nine wickets, before going on to play and captain Dorset in Minor Counties cricket. 

Pete won the Minor Counties championship in 2000 beating Cumberland CC in the final and returned to Lord’s to captain Dorset in the one-day Minor Counties Cup final in 2006.

He also played for Chorley in the 1994 and 1995 National Club Championship at Lord’s in their victories over Ealing CC and Clifton Flax Bourton CC.

One of his team-mates on those magical days, Rex Purnell, is already confirmed to join Peter in the MCC team for the White Coppice game on June 22nd.

Peter said: “It will be amazing celebration of White Coppice’s wonderful history and longevity and I feel honoured to bring the MCC to play in one of the most scenic and special cricket settings in the UK! Reg and Kath would be proud.”

* Any companies wanting to sponsor the showpiece match should contact White Coppice Cricket Club.