Merger confirmed for Jersey teams

The Farmers ground will host league cricket for the first time this year

Jersey's Farmers and Caesareans cricket clubs have confirmed merger plans for the start of the 2009 season.

The Farmers club, which had previously just played friendly matches, will now join the new Channel Islands cricket league this summer.

The new team will be called Farmers Caesareans.

Former Caesareans players Peter German and Dave Gascoyne have been appointed as the captains for the first and second teams respectively.

"We see this as good for Jersey cricket and look forward to welcoming new members, opposition teams and those who simply wish to watch cricket at the Farmers field," said Gascoyne.

"We want the club to further develop its great family and social club atmosphere which is unique in Jersey given that that FCC is the only club to have a home cricket ground," added club president Rob Perchard.

Farmers, who were set up by Jimmy Perchard in 2004, have been playing touring sides and social matches for the past few years, while Caesareans were bottom of the Jersey's Premier League in 2008.

The Farmers ground was opened in May 2005 when the Jersey Island Cricket Club played a Farmers side led out by former England skipper Mike Gatting.