Portsmouth umpire Andy Anthony set to step out at a near deserted Lord’s in the National Village Cup final

The 41-year-old has been selected as one of the two umpires for the National Village Cup final at headquarters between Colwall and Redbourn on Saturday (11am start).

Anthony is only the third local south coast panel umpire to get such an appointment behind Dave Bull and Paul Sparshott.

Redbourn, from Hertfordshire, are taking part in the competition for the first time in 2020 while their opponents hail from Worcestershire.

Redbourn knocked out holders Reed - the team who had beaten Sarisbury Athletic at the semi-final stage last year - en route to Lord’s.

‘I’m extremely fortunate to get this chance,’ said Anthony.

‘It’s a bit like refereeing the FA Cup final - you only get the chance to do it once unless there’s extreme circumstances.

‘It’s a very, very proud honour – I’m really looking forward to it.’

Anthony, originally from Fareham, has only been umpiring for seven years, starting out at the lowest level of the Southern Premier League before working his way up to Premier standard.

He only took up umpiring after a knee injury sustained on a cricket tour of Barbados ended his playing days.

He played for Gosport colts in the early 1990s, and progressed to be a regular 3rd team player by 1995.

Anthony stepped up to the 2nd XI in 1996, and won their bowling award in 1997 after changing from 'pace' to off-spin.

In 1999 he joined Rowner, and was regularly playing in their 1st XI before moving to Curdridge where his dad, John, was groundsman, and they were about to join the Hampshire league.

After he started on the umpiring route full-time, he did play occasionally for Denmead where his improved batting was very valuable.

Cricket is certainly in his family’s blood - dad John played for Rowner for many years as a left-hand opening bat/wicket-keeper.

Andy’s 2020 National Village Cup campaign started when he was the solitary umpire at Overton’s first round game against Ventnor.

It will finish at Lord’s, but sadly due to the pandemic none of his family and friends are allowed inside the world famous stadium to watch.

The same applies to the players of the two competing teams, though the match is being live streamed.

Anthony has umpired at Lord’s once before. Due to his job in the Portsmouth Dockyard, he was an umpire at the Navy’s game against Cross Arrows in 2016.

‘This is a far more prestigious game,’ he said.

Asked what his umpiring ambitions were, Anthony replied: ‘When I started out my goal was to do well in the Southern League.

‘A realistic goal now is getting onto the Minor Counties panel.

‘Covid has shut down that avenue this year, but that’s my goal for next year.’