THE first match of Bournemouth’s inaugural Festival of Cricket sees Hampshire returning to Dean Park.

The four-day event will run over the May Day Bank Holiday as the first part of a summer of celebration as Dean Park marks its 135th anniversary.

In a busy programme, the highlight of the Festival will see a full-strength Hampshire side begin their T20 preparations by taking on Dorset on Monday May 4.

Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams made his county cricket debut with Dorset in 1998 at Dean Park and is thrilled to be returning to the historic ground.

“I remember it well,” he said. “Marcus Trescothick flayed us everywhere! My coach at school was the current Dorset coach Alan Willows and he got me involved again for a couple of games ten years later.

“Dean Park has a wonderful history and association with Hampshire and it will be great to finally get back on the pitch there after a number of weather-affected years.”

With organisers expecting the festival to attract 5,000 spectators over the weekend, the festival opens on Friday, May 1 when a Mayor’s Select XI will take on Dorset Ladies and their guests.

On Saturday, 2014 Dorset League runners up Parley CC entertain Wimborne & Colehill.

On Sunday, May 3, last season’s Unicorns KO Trophy winners, Devon, face Dorset.

Dean Park has a rich history and is something of a ‘lost treasure’ of Victorian Bournemouth.

It has been home to Dorset CCC since it was founded in 1896 and was frequently used by Hampshire CCC, hosting 343 first class matches between 1897 and 1992.

Not only did Dean Park twice entertain the Australian national side on tour in the early 20th century, the legendary WG Grace supported an earlier attempt to stage a festival of cricket and made the first of many appearances at Dean Park in 1903.

Prince Phillip captained the Duke of Edinburgh’s XI to a thrilling one-wicket victor over Hampshire at Dean Park in 1949.

Bournemouth Rovers played one of Britain’s earliest floodlit football matches at Dean Park in 1875 before making a home at the ground and playing as Bournemouth Dean Park in 1888.

A year later they merged with Bournemouth Arabs to become Bournemouth FC before leaving Dean Park the following season. Today, they play in the Sydenhams Wessex League as Bournemouth Poppies.

Later this summer Dean Park will play host to charity matches involving the England fans’ side the Barmy Army, the Lord’s Taverners and the all-star Lashings World XI.