The Gloucestershire Exiles
The Gloucestershire Exiles is a part-social, part fundraising founded in 1971 and boasts a membership of several hundred Gloucestershire supporters from across the country and even around the world.
Originally conceived to bring together supporters from outside the county, the membership now includes many who live in Gloucestershire and Bristol who wish to enjoy the benefits offered by the Exiles.
We organise events both during the cricket season and winter months – you can read about them below. These include an Annual General Meeting at Lord’s, a day at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival for members and friends and also a 'Meet the Players' evening during one of our matches in London. Every other year we hold a Fundraising Dinner in the Lord’s Committee Dining Room.
We also produce our Exiles magazine, Outside-edge, which is the only print publication exclusively about Gloucestershire cricket. It is published twice a year and sent to all of our members. Outside-edge keeps our members in touch with the Club news through articles submitted by members and contributions from county players past and present, cricket writers and other cricket-lovers.
How can I get involved?
Membership of the Gloucestershire Exiles has an annual subscription cost of just £20 ( £25 for joint membership). To find out more and to receive a complimentary copy of Outside-edge, please contact our Membership Secretary, Matt Davies, at matt.davies@bbc.co.uk or on 07970 730267.
March 2025 Update - Exiles Dinner at Lord's Pavilion
The Exiles kicked off their social activities for the year with a highly successful and very enjoyable dinner, held in the Writing Room in the pavilion Lord’s in early February. Following a tour of the pavilion Jon Paine, the Exiles Treasurer and the event organiser, welcomed the guests who included Richard Gould, CEO of the ECB, and Peter Matthews, Chair of Gloucestershire CCC. After an excellent meal, both addressed the gathering with Peter speaking candidly about the county club and especially about its financial position, while Richard looked at the wider game and covered a number of topics including the growing influence of franchise cricket, the advent of new investment from sources such as India and US retch companies, and the fixture calendar. He was also very happy to take questions from the floor.
At the conclusion of the formalities Jim Harrison, who will be succeeding Jon as Treasurer of the Exiles, and past Club President Marie Journeaux presented a cheque for £5000 to Peter to reflect the donation from the Exiles to the Club in the past year. Always keen to support the development of young talent within the Club, Exiles were delighted to hear that £3000 of this will be allocated to the Girls Pathway
Grateful thanks were extended to Richard and Peter for their contributions to the evening and to Jon Paine and his fellow committee members for hosting the event which typified perfectly the part-social and part-fundraising activities of the Exiles. The evening closed with the usual Exiles farewell message, “See you in Cheltenham!”
Exiles Day at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival
The ever-popular annual event took place last year during the County Championship match against Glamorgan when over 150 Exiles and their guests flocked to the Exiles’ spiritual home for yet another marvellous day, both on and off the pitch. The cricket was exhilarating, but as ever with Exiles Day, it was not all about what happened on the pitch. Set in a private marquee the day gives a chance for Exiles to catch up with friends and kindred spirits, often from far-flung places, many of whom they only see once a year.
During the lunch interval, Exiles Chair Sarah Blowen welcomed everyone to the event, especially former Glamorgan Chair and President Gerard Elias, and introduced Adam Moody as the latest Exiles recruit and the first American member of the organisation. For Adam, it was his first visit to Cheltenham, having recently joined the Exiles and arranged a holiday to Britain to coincide with the festival. She also presented the Exiles Player of the Year Award 2023 to Ollie Price, who held a Questions and Answers session with the Exiles’ Matt Davies.
As well as the fun had by all who attended, Jon Paine donated £2000 on behalf of the Exiles to Club Treasurer Nick Bryan, a fellow Exile.
After the donation, Sarah Blowen said: “I am always amazed at and incredibly grateful for the support that our members give for this day."
“So many people travel many a mile to support the event. A great deal of work goes into organising it, but it is all well worthwhile when you see so many people having fun and at the same time knowing that we are all supporting the County.”
The 2025 event will take place on July 30th. Details will be circulated to Exiles as soon as they are ready.
Mark Brunt
Gloucestershire Cricket Elected Board Member & Gloucestershire Exile
For more information about the Exiles Day and to secure your tickets for 2025 please contact Mark Brunt at: mbrunt35@outlook.com
Outside-edge
To give you a wider picture of the history of the Exiles and its link with the County Club, below is a link to the 100th edition of Outside-edge which includes highlights and pictures through the years from the formation of the Exiles in 1971:
Click here for the 109th Edition of the Outside-edge.
Outside-edge editor Martin Jones welcomes all contributions and ideas for articles. We would be delighted to hear from you, especially with your 150 words. Please email him at jonitiramsen1986@gmail.com