Sporting icons at Barnstaple charity dinner

Cricketer Arul Suppiah meets Louise Crisp and her daughter Emily at Little Bridge House in Fremington, accompanied by the Somerset Cricket Club mascot Stumpy.

Tony Gussin Wednesday, January 23, 2013
12:01 AM

Spend an evening with Arul Suppiah and Bobby Gould at the Park Hotel on March 1.

CRICKET and football join forces at a special dinner in Barnstaple on Friday, March 1 hosted by Somerset cricketer Arul Suppiah and football legend Bobby Gould.

The event is part of the Malaysia and Somerset cricketer’s benefit year celebrations and will be raising funds for Children’s Hospice South West, which has been supported by the Somerset squad for several years.

The three course dinner will be held at the Park Hotel, with the food followed by speeches from both Arul and Bobby, a question and answer session with the audience plus a raffle and auction of sporting memorabilia.

Children’s Hospice South West has enjoyed several links with famous Somerset cricketers and Arul decided he wanted to choose the hospice as his charity partner during the benefit year granted to him by the club.

He recently visited Little Bridge House at Fremington, accompanied by the Somerset mascot Stumpy – who proved a hit with children and parents alike.

Born in Malaysia, Arul moved to England when he was 12. He has been with the Somerset county squad for 12 years, with highlights including a highest score of 156 not out against India at Taunton in 2011.

Bobby Gould is perhaps best known for his achievements as Wimbledon manager, when his team beat Liverpool to lift the FA Cup in 1988.

One way or another he has been involved with football all his life, scoring more than 160 senior goals in his playing career, representing clubs such as Coventry City, West Ham, Arsenal and Wolves. He also managed Bristol Rovers, Coventry and West Bromwich Albion.

Tickets for the Sportsmans Dinner on March 1 cost £25 and are available from Eddie Dymond on 01271 374302 or David Butt on 07818 037726.