AN 80-year wait for a first team Yorkshire County Cricket Club side to play in York will end in August when Dunnington CC hosts a special Twenty20 match.

For the first time since 1931, Tykes captain Andrew Gale will bring a representative side to the Common Road venue as part of wicket-keeper Gerard Brophy’s benefit season.

Dunnington have successfully bid for the game which will be held on Tuesday, August 16, between Yorkshire and a York Select XI taken from the clubs of the Hunters York & District Senior League premier division.

On that day, Yorkshire will be dropping off in the Minster city following a CB40 match against Derbyshire Falcons before travelling to Scarborough for an LV= County Championship match against Sussex.

Subject to injury, or international commitments, Yorkshire’s side could include the likes of Anthony McGrath, Tim Bresnan and former Dunnington junior Jonathan Bairstow.

Duncan Griffiths, of Dunnington Sports Club, said the organisation was hoping to attract a big crowd for what would be an historic match at the ground.

“We are very excited. When you get to meet Gerard Brophy you realise you are meeting these people you watch every day,” he said.

“Tim Bresnan won the Ashes. Ryan Sidebottom is an ex-England international. This is big news for the club.”

Yorkshire’s Percy Holmes, William Harbord and Arthur Mitchell played the last time the county lined up for a representative first team match in York – against a York & District XI at Clifton Park on June 10 and 11, 1931.

While the county’s second teams, Academy and Under-25s have returned on numerous occasions, the elite have not. In fact, York has only ever held one first-class game, in 1890, when Yorkshire won by eight wickets at the Yorkshire Gentlemen Cricket Club Ground on Wigginton Road.

Other Yorkshire matches in York were an earlier match against the York & District side in 1930, when the legendary Herbert Sutcliffe made four, and a two-day game at Bootham Crescent in May 1920 which Yorkshire won by 153 runs.

Brophy has been given a benefit season following a five-year stay at Headingley which has yielded more than 5,000 first class runs and over 450 dismissals with the gloves.

The 34-year-old South African was given an early testimonial – tradition usually dictates they are handed out after ten years – in recognition of his popularity and loyalty.

For Dunnington, Griffiths hopes the game will turn out to be a great occasion as well as a money-spinner for the club.

“There are fairly close links between our two clubs as Colin Graves is president of Dunnington and chairman of Yorkshire,” he added. “We are putting a brochure together. We are hopeful we can secure a sponsor and Yorkshire have committed to bringing a first team.

“Playing against a select XI from the York & District Senior League makes the event even more local. Obviously we don’t know the availability of the likes of Adil Rashid, Bresnan and Bairstow – they might be picked for England – but Martyn Moxon may also take some part.

“The players will mingle with supporters after the game before they go to Scarborough. Our sports club has been going through some significant changes.

“We need to be at this level, attracting these sort of events. It is ambitious but it is quite manageable.”