With the 2002 membership campaign only a few weeks old, new members are running at a record level at Somerset County Cricket Club. On the back of the club's most successful season ever in 2001, more than 120 new members have already signed up to join the county for 2002, more than twice the number at the same time as last year.

The overall number of members currently stands well in excess of 1,000, which also is more than in December 2001. Membership secretary Joanne Betsworth told me: "Everything is going really well and we are absolutely delighted. Some of the new members have been recruited as a result of the £10 refund that existing members receive if they introduce a new member. The response has been brilliant, the scheme is proving to be very popular.

"If things continue like this we could be looking to end up with considerably more than the 7000 members we have had for the past two years."

To enable the club to deal with the volume of new membership applications the office at the County Ground will be open on Saturday 15th December between 10am and 1pm.

Even Somerset all rounder Ian Blackwell, who has been working in the office during the winter, has been recruited to help out on Saturday's. Blackie told me: "It's been pretty hectic over the last few weeks trying to cope with all the new memberships that are coming in."

© SOMERSET