Cup Match will be held in St George’s this year, but seniors will gate a taste of the event in Somerset days before the first over.

The third annual Tee’l Pre-Cup Match and Emancipation Day tea for seniors will be held at Somerset Cricket Club on July 29 and organiser Terry Smith said he expects it to be the biggest yet.

He said: “We have people coming from all across the island, and everyone seems to be excited and looking forward to it. It’s a great feeling to see it grow, but there are so many people in the community who help out.”

Mr Smith said the idea of the tea party came up as something for young people to do as part of a summer camp he had organised. The camp had a lower turnout than he had expected, but he moved forward with the tea party with the help of other people from Somerset.

He said: “Because it was already in my mind, I decided to go through with it anyway.

Mr Smith explained: “A lot of the seniors can’t get out to Cup Match because it’s just too hot, so it’s an event for them to come out and enjoy the Cup Match spirit.”

He said the first party in 2017 had 76 guests, but 136 attended last year. He added: “This year we are catering for 150. It’s doubled in two years, really. We had the Premier come, along with the Governor and the Leader of the Opposition.”

Seniors will enjoy live music and entertainment and several of Bermuda’s sporting legends such as football star Clyde Best have stopped by to meet the attendees.

Mr Smith said seniors who want to attend should RSVP at 234-0430.