A Petersfield councillor has not given up on his quest to remember the town’s cricketing past.

Cllr David Podger, who represents Petersfield St Peter's, would like to see a statue commemorating cricketer John Small, who was a town resident.

John was an English professional cricketer who played for the famous Hambledon Club during the 18th century, he died in 1826.

His grave can still be seen in St Peter’s graveyard and there is blue plaque honouring him on the historic Georgian building next to the church on Sheep Street, where he owned a shop.

“I’m interested in generating interest both locally, nationally and internationally to see if it would be possible to commemorate John Small's contribution to cricket,” Cllr Podger said.

“He was a titan in cricketing circles in the eighteenth century and he played the sport in later years.

“John had a shop on the corner of The Square where he used to make his cricket balls, which were much in demand. He was the person that standardised the use of the straight cricket bat in competitive cricket.”

However, Cllr Podger has come across a slight issue with the project - there are no surviving pictures of the famous cricketer!

There are records of an etching from a newspaper or a portrait that was done for the Hambledon Cricket Club but Cllr Podger says he has to make further enquiries.

Apart from commemorating John Small, Cllr Podger would like to see more recognition of cricket’s significance in the surrounding area, the first cricket club was formed in Hambledon in the 17th century.

Cllr Podger added: “This is a private endeavour but if people are interested then they can always send me an email.

“It doesn’t even have to be a statue but a commemorative monument to John Small's contribution to cricket and his connection with Petersfield.”