What would the two-day Cup Match game be without the staunch supporters, cheering and running out onto the field when a player from their team scores a century or has caught someone out.

They are the people that come out every year to the game, dressed in whatever good luck charm they have.

And they are the people who know their cricketers.

Madge Smith and her sister Yola have supported the St. George's team all their life -- but what choice did they have? They, along with other siblings, grew up in the little blue house in the club yard, now known to us as the snack hut.

And on top of that, their cousin, former wicket-keeper Walington `Buster' Smith, and an uncle played in Cup Match.

"I have lived in St. George's all my life and I used to go to every Cup Match but I haven't gone in the last two years. I don't know if I'm going to go this year,'' Madge Smith said.

She added: "We had some members of our family that used to play cricket like Buster Smith, he used to be the wicket-keeper on the St. George's team for years. And I guess my family has just always been for St. George's.

"I used to really enjoy the game, my grandmother had a stall and I used to live right next to the club in what is now the little snack hut. We would have a stall right outside the house with snowballs, and homemade ginger beer which my grandmother made.

"My uncle Arthur `Blacky' Smith would always make the walking sticks in the team colours and sell them.'' Miss Smith added: "I've lived in St. George's for years so I didn't have a choice but to support the team.'' Asked whether she has ever been in one of the crowds that bolted onto the field in celebration of something a team member did Miss smith replied: "My uncle Hilton `Yorkie' Smith would always run on the field every time his nephew did something maybe that's why my sister Yola took it up. I never did that and I'm sure not about to start now.'' Yola Smith is still running on the field when a century is made giving players a little kiss on the cheek.

"I love the game, no one could give me a free trip around that time of year because I love Cup Match so much,'' Yola Smith said.

She added: "Years ago my brother and husband used to play Cup Match so I've been running on the field for years. I have to reward my players when they do well, and give them a little kiss on the side.

"The excitement of the game makes me do it. This year we are definitely going to be the winners. I have some folks coming in from abroad and we're going to boost them along.'' Mrs. Smith also makes sure she is known at Cup Match by wearing colourful outfits and hats.

"I wear colourful outfits and I wear plenty of hats. I love my hats. I guess I am just crazy.'' Carlos Caisey is well-known to a Cup Match crowd as his voice can be heard a mile away. He too is a St. George's supporter.

"I've been going to Cup Match for about 25 years. I'm for St. George's because that is where I was born and bred and basically my whole family has been supporters.

"I go to Cup Match every year and I don't miss the game for anybody, and I don't work for anybody on those two days,'' Mr. Caisey said.

He added: "Every year I have a camp with some friends -- we're called `The Set's On Possie' -- and I just enjoy the atmosphere.'' Mr. Caisey also said he is one of the people who is truly for St. George's and the game and not just for the Cup Match event.

"It has gotten too commercialised, everyone is making money besides the clubs.'' Cyril `Jimmy Drew' Smith is another known St. George's Cup Match fan and one can either see him or smell him from a distance as he wears his traditional huge St. George's hat and smokes a very big cigar in celebration of the two days.

"I have been going to Cup Match for over 50 years. I'm a big fan of St.

George's because I have lived down there all my life.

"When the cricket club was on Water Street in town I was too young to go in the club so we used to sit at the post office to see what was going on when they were picking the team,'' Mr. Smith said.

He added: "We used to watch the reactions on the cricketers faces. We couldn't even go near the club, they were very strict in those days.

"At Cup Match time there used to be a wooden pavilion opposite the cricket club and we used to sit on the porch and listen to the cricketers.'' Mr. Smith said today, he smokes a large cigar and walks around wearing a big hat decorated with St. George's ribbons -- which "I got in 1958 in Mexico.'' Cup Match supporters "I only wear that hat to Cup Match and I'm a non-smoker, I only smoke a cigar on the two Cup Match days and at county games.

"Sometimes I run out on the field but I'm getting a little too old now. It depends on the spirit.'' On his team winning this year Mr. Smith said: "This year we will make a difference one way or the other.'' Somerset supporter Roland Jones was born around Cup Match over 50 years ago and calls himself a Cup Match baby.

"I used to go every year but now I'm getting a little tired, I might fall and people will walk over me.

"My grandfather was the first Somerset captain and all his sons played in Cup Match. His daughters also played cricket,'' Mr. Jones said.

He added: "A lot of people in Somerset are staunch Cup Match supporters.'' David Williams, also for Somerset, said: "I think we have a good team this year to win the cup again.

"I go to Cup Match when it's in Somerset but I'm still thinking about going to St. George's, I'll see how the first day goes.'' He added: "I've spent most of my life in Somerset and I know most of the Somerset cricket players.

'' CUP MATCH HABITS -- Cyril "Jimmy Drew'' Smith comes out to support his St.

George's team every year with a hat he has been wearing to Cup Match since 1958 and a fat cigar.