Manager Simon Grayson and his staff took the squad to Thornton Cleveleys Cricket Club on Monday night as part of a team bonding exercise.

The event which was in aid of Brian House Children's Hospice drew a decent crowd in the late afternoon sunshine with many looking for cricketing inspiration following England's capitulation to South Africa at Headingley .

The 13-a-side affair saw Simon Grayson and his staff take on the players skippered by David Fox. It was the midfielder who called correctly and the former Man Utd man had no hesitation in asking the Gaffer's team to bat first.

Openers kit man Barry Garnett and youth team coach Gary Parkinson gave the staff a solid platform, but the youth and exuberance of the players saw the staff fail to build on their early start, Tony Parkes did his best to impersonate Geoff Boycott and Chris Tavare before giving way to the big hitting pair of Steve Thompson and Simon Grayson. Thompson who claims to have won the single wicket tournament as a youngster at Cleveleys held the Staff batting together with a great knock of 30, Grayson who also looked in good nick was run out trying to scamper a quick single.

A flurry of wickets ensued but the highlight for many was the innings of Karl Oyston. The Pool chairman entered the "arena" to a pantomime chorus of boos, but less than a minute later he was back in the pavilion having been bowled for a Golden Duck!

The Staff innings finally closed in the 21^st over with a total of 103 for 12 with the Gazette's Steve Canavan and secretary Matt Williams remaining unbeaten on four and nought respectively.

Williams wasn't given too much time to recover from his cameo innings with Simon Grayson tossing him the ball to open the bowling," Blackpool's answer to Dwayne Leverock" was the cry from one or two of the players who were not involved in the game but Williams was left frustrated with an awful piece of umpiring that should have seen David Fox back in the Pavilion first ball with a blatant Lbw, the portly spinner then cut Shaun Barker in half with a Shane Warnesque delivery only for the keeper to completely miss the stumping. The big man's misery was completed when he failed to hold a caught and bowled after Barker smashed a full toss straight back at him.

The players to their credit kept the scoreboard ticking and made the most of some pedestrian fielding but it was a combination of some awful bowling from Gary Parkinson and some big hitting from Alex John Baptiste that turned the game, having played Parkinson's first ball back for no run Baptiste promptly smashed the next five balls for four fours and a massive six. The former Mansfield man finally fell to Simon Grayson who took three quick wickets to give the staff a glimmer of hope but the players had an ace up their sleeve with Andy Morrell who smashed Steve Thompson into Fleetwood with a massive six back over his head.

With the scores level and plenty of overs left Simon Grayson turned to Karl Oyston and after two "loose" deliveries, Morrell creamed the third through fine leg for four.

It's back to the serious stuff for Grayson and his squad the players with Shrewsbury the next opponents for the Tangerines.

On the game a disappointed Simon Grayson said, "It was a good team bonding exercise and everyone, players and supporters alike, enjoyed it," We also raised what should be a decent amount for a worthy charity. It's just a pity the best team lost, I will be picking the umpires next season!"

The club would like to thank all at Thornton Cleveleys Cricket Club for their help and to the fans who came down to watch the game.

To view exclusive photos of the game click here and here