ONE of the region's oldest cricket clubs celebrates its 175th anniversary tonight when Sir Ian Botham opens its new £41,000 changing rooms.

Barnard Castle Cricket Club, in County Durham, was formed in 1832 on farmland on the edge of town, and moved in 1863 to the Baliol Street ground where tonight's festivities will be held.

The club's earliest document is a set of rules dated 1859 which state that white flannel trousers had to be worn - the colour of the shirt was not stipulated - and that there should be "no smoking while engaged in the game".

In the 1890s, the club was offering financial inducements to attract players. The opening batsmen who shared a stand of 109 against Appleby-in-Westmoreland were given cricket bats, but a rule change of 1893 stated: "We will discontinue talent money."

A professional cricketer-groundsman continued to be employed into the Thirties, although one pro was sacked for "unsatisfactory and unaccountable conduct".

In 1926, cattle dealer Roy Watson began what would become a lifetime's involvement with the club. By 1944, he had taken his 1,000th wicket and in 1962, at the club's 130th anniversary dinner, it was worked out that he had taken 31 per cent of all the wickets in the club's history.

Roy must have played with RW Hardy, whose scorecards have recently turned up in a tobacco pouch at Nottingham University. Mr Hardy played for Barney from 1925 to 1927, and also represented Norton, Darlington, Redcar, Durham City, Bedale and Wolsingham.

"We'd love to hear from anyone who knows about him," said club chairman John Walker.

During the Second World War, six military camps were established in Teesdale. Several army instructors were county cricketers who turned out for the club, including Maurice Tremlett, of Somerset, whose grandson is in the current England team.

One wartime Saturday, Lancastrian Bill Roberts turned out for Barney; the following Thursday he played for England in a Test match under the captaincy of Walter Hammond.

"I felt it was a tremendous privilege to be playing alongside and getting tips from these chaps," said Alan Wilkinson, Barnard Castle historian, who followed his father, Fred, into the team.

In fact, Fred was the last person to bowl underarm for Barney, in 1932. "It was near dusk, the umpires had rejected appeals against the light, but he knew it was getting dangerous and so to keep the game going, he bowled underarm," said Alan. But Fred bowled underarm so well that he took three wickets and won the game.

Conditions at Barney's ground had not changed greatly since Fred's days - the pavilion had no running water and no toilets - until a £41,000 grant from the English Cricket Board was won. Tonight, at 6pm, "Sir Beefy" will open the facilities and inspect the club's burgeoning youth schemes.

"All former players are welcome," said chairman John Walker. "If they haven't been down recently, I think they'll be impressed at the way we are developing."

Details of tonight's celebrations from Rod Hesp on 01833-690308. Historical information courtesy of Mr Wilkinson, who inherited Roy Watson's collection of cuttings.