Western Counties Cricket Association (WCCA) will stage next week?s inaugural sevens cricket tournament in memory of late Somerset Bridge Recreation Club, Southampton Rangers and Somerset Cricket Club Cup Match player Kenneth (Mickey) Thompson.

The new tournament, originally slated for this weekend, will be held on Saturday, April 30 at White Hill Field featuring all five WCCA representatives along with guest club, Somerset Cricket Club.

All contests will consist of 14 overs ? seven overs per team ? with each player allowed to bowl one over.

The remaining WCCA representatives include champions Warwick, Southampton Rangers, PHC, Willow Cuts and Somerset Bridge.

?Since this is the inaugural year we gave people an opportunity to put forward names and the Thompson family said they always wanted to do something like this,? explained WCCA president Gary Dowling.

?I think it is more than fitting because he (Thompson) was a popular cricketer and personality in the West End and everything has worked out good.?

Dowling said the tournament will forever be played in honour of the late Thompson on an annual basis with plans already in the pipeline to increase the number of participants and prize earnings for next year.

The eventual winner of the Kenneth (Mickey) Thompson Sevens Tournament will pocket $500, the second placed team $300, third $200 with the remaining teams each receiving $100.

Dowling added: ?Even the team that comes last still gets their money back for entrance fees that help cover the costs for the umpires and things like that.?

Thompson, father of former national football coach, Kenny Thompson and current WCCA secretary Kim Jackson, was lost at sea in 1981 in a freak storm onboard the J&K along with the boat?s joint owner Johnny Riley, Harry Arorash and Noel Pearman.

The quartet had steamed out of Ely?s Harbour in Somerset on a fishing trip, but never returned. Subsequent air and rescue search proved fruitless and a touching memorial service was held at Somerset Cricket Club ? a stone?s throw away from Riley?s Scott?s Hill Road residence.

Thompson represented Somerset Bridge during the 1950s and early 60s and played under late Somerset Cup Match skipper Charles (Buckjuice) Swan who relied upon four colts in the 1957 summer classic.

?Mickey was a very good opening bat,? recalled former Somerset Cup Match skipper Sheridan Raynor who played in the 1957 summer classic with the late Thompson.

??He was a good all-rounder who bowled right-arm spin.?

*Premier Division newcomers Social Club embark on a pre-season training camp of Antigua today.

Details of the tour remain sketchy as coach Charlie Marshall did not return calls yesterday.