A  number of former Somerset Players were guests of the club on Saturday, which turned out to be the final day of the last championship match of the season against Hampshire.

The players gathered in the Long Room before enjoying a carvery lunch together and afterwards spent time in one of the hospitality boxes in the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion.

Among those attending was Simon Ecclestone who was returning to Somerset CCC for the first time since injury forced him to take an early retirement in 1998.

The left handed batter who scored just short of 1000 first class runs in 1997 the year he was also vice captain said: “It was great to come back and catch up with everyone. It’s been a long old time and I didn’t quite know what to expect but it was most enjoyable

“The ground looks so different but it’s still a great playing surface and it was shame that there wasn’t a bit more in the game than there was.”

Simon went on: “All this time passes but seeing some of the guys who I played with you just carry on where you left off. If you are in any team for an amount of time its such an intense period that its like going to school with people - you’re there for such an intense period you see them more than you do your family, so when you catch up there’s always something to talk about.”

He aded: “It was like carrying on with where we left off 25 years ago- it was a really nice day and very therapeutic.”