NEWPORT Football Club are ready to create history on September 1 by hosting the Isle of Wight's first ever floodlit cricket match.

Working in tandem with the Isle of Wight Cricket Board, they are bringing the popular Twenty 20-style format to St George's Park, combining an exciting evening's cricket with a party crowd atmosphere.

The event will see a Newport FC select XI take on an IWCB XI, starting at 7.15pm. Prior to that, there will be a warm-up match between the Isle of Wight's under-15s and under-16s, starting at 5pm.

The match will be used, in part, to host one of Newport FC's Community Partners events - a scheme supported by local businesses to provide football for all on the Island. The latest businesses to climb aboard as community partners are The Paperhouse, The Tile Centre, The Gurnard Pines Holiday Village and Cartridge World.

Dean Hodges, commercial director of Newport FC and chairman of the Supporters' Trust, said: "This is a great opportunity for both the football club and the IW Cricket Board to do something really special for the Island's people. The interest that has been shown by local businesses suggests it could take off in a big way." Admission is £2 for adults and £1 for children.

Meanwhile, the Islanders continue their friendly campaign tomorrow evening (Wednesday) at home to an AFC Totton side managed by former Port player Stuart Ritchie.

Manager John Linington has added three new names to his squad - all from Sydenhams Wessex League neighbours Cowes Sports.

Centre-half Ollie Fleming and sweeper/midfielder Mark Fletcher have both signed, along with left-sided player Luke Forrest, who was among a batch of players to follow Port's former reserve manager Paul Sleep to Cowes last summer.

Linington is also hopeful of re-signing popular frontrunner Jamie O'Rourke, who rejoined Havant & Waterlooville when Port went into receivership midway through last season. "I think he needs to play over here again because of work commitments," explained Linington. "It'll be nice to have him back."

Newport are the only one of the area's three Isthmian Division 1 sides to begin their league campaign on home territory. Linington's lads kick-off against Croydon Athletic at St George's Park on August 14, while Bashley travel to Croydon and Fleet Town take on Hastings United in Sussex.

In the Isthmian Premier Division, Eastleigh and Salisbury come up against familiar opponents from last year's Dr Martens Eastern Division. Eastleigh travel to Tonbridge Angels while Nick Holmes's City side entertain Folkestone Invicta.