A DRAW at Essex, coupled with Middlesex losing, keeps GCCC in the promotion race - just.

Two bad umpiring decisions affected the match. Firstly umpire Gale reversed a decision to give out Ryan Ten Doeschate. He changed his mind after conversation with the batsman!

This incensed the Gloucestershire players who saw this as a senior batsman influencing a junior umpire.

Next day, Alex Gidman was given out lbw, having hit the ball.

Captain Alex, rather unwisely, gave Gale the chance to reverse that division - after all, had he not done it once?

This was correctly interpreted as dissent and Alex is ‘on a charge’. Quite correctly, Alex admitted he was wrong and will accept what punishment comes his way.

But surely the villain of this piece is umpire Gale? I shall watch his future career with interest - if he has one.

My advice regarding omitting Marshall and Saxelby was not taken. Hamish had yet another disastrous game, failing to reach double figures in either innings. His current championship form is wretched.

The lively Fuller certainly deserves a place ahead of Saxelby who seems tired after a long season.

County chief executive Tom Richardson was in touch during the week, anxious to reassure me the club are doing their utmost to retain Chris Taylor and Hamish Marshall who are both out of contract.

Chris is having a fine season and is especially valuable.

We both chuckled about two ridiculous rumours that emanated from the Cheltenham Festival.

One is that there will be no Festival, because of the Olympics, and the other is that the College is asking too high a rent and the County Club will not return. Both rumours are absolute bunkum.

The Cheltenham Festival is a firm fixture in the County’s programme.

Regrettably, another firm fixture is the curse of television. Whenever the cameras are present, Gloucestershire play badly, and the local derby v Somerset this Wednesday is to be broadcast to the nation.

At least there should be a big crowd.

There certainly was not when Cirencester played Stourbridge at the Corinium Stadium last week.

For the town club to survive on such small gates is a tribute to their organisation and leadership.

Penny and I were charmingly entertained in the club boardroom, which was an unexpected delight. Many people work hard to keep non-league football going and it was a pleasure to meet some of them.

Man of the match for Cirencester was Jamie Reid who had an outstanding game.

He had a goal disallowed, similar to the one George Best scored when he dispossessed Gordon Banks.

I am sure the referee interpreted the rules correctly, but am equally sure that in the modern game goalkeepers are over- protected. Every time they fall over, a free kick is given.

Mrs Light and I realised we had time to see Swindon play Oxford, but were denied the opportunity.

No tickets were on sale on the day, because of concerns about hooliganism. I had not anticipated a minister of religion and a retired head teacher in his 70s would pose such a problem!

I end by praising Test Match Special and Michael Vaughan. In a rain-break discussion centred on opportunities for young cricketers, Vaughan warmly praised the contribution made by cricket clubs.

Cross this county from Lechlade to Thornbury and you will see how right he is. “Oh to be young in the Cotswolds under the summer sun.”